Table 5 Depression Attitude Scale questionnaire results - only statements with a significant difference between GPs and psychiatrists are shown

A1. Since starting my practice, I have seen an increase in the number of patients presenting with depressive symptoms

A3. Most depressive disorders seen in general practice improve without medication

A4. An underlying biochemical abnormality is the basis of severe cases of depression

A5. It is difficult to differentiate whether patients are presenting with unhappiness or a clinical depressive disorder that needs treatment

A8. Patients with depression are more likely to have experienced deprivation in early life than other people

A9. I feel comfortable in dealing with the needs of patients with depression

A10. Depression reflects a characteristic response in patients which is not amenable to change

A12. The nurse could be a useful person to support patients with depression

A13. Working with patients with depression is heavy going

A14. There is little to be offered to those patients with depression who do not respond to treatment by GPs

A15. It is rewarding looking after patients with depression

A16. Psychotherapy tends to be unsuccessful in patients with depression

A17. If patients with depression need antidepressants, they are better off with a psychiatrist than with a GP

A18. Antidepressants usually produce a satisfactory result in the treatment of patients with depression in general practice

A19. Psychotherapy for patients with depression should be left to a specialist

A20. If psychotherapy was freely available, this would be more beneficial than antidepressants for most patients with depression