Table 3 Participants’ responses to Depression Attitude Questionnaire
No. | Statement | Agree n (%) | Disagree n (%) | Don’t knowa n (%) | Total n (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | During the last 5Â years I have seen an increase in the number of patients presenting with depressive symptoms | 102 (45.1) | 93 (41.2) | 31 (13.7) | 226 (100) |
2 | The majority of depression cases I see originated from recent misfortune | 146 (64.6) | 51 (22.6) | 29 (12.8) | 226 (100) |
3 | Biochemical abnormality is at the basis of more severe depression | 80 (35.4) | 66 (29.2) | 80 (35.4) | 226 (100) |
4 | It is possible to distinguish two groups of depression, one psychological in origin and the other caused by biochemical mechanisms. | 139 (61.5) | 40 (17.7) | 47 (20.8) | 226 (100) |
5 | Depressed patients are more likely to have experienced deprivation in early life than other people. | 134 (59.6) | 59 (26.2) | 32 (14.2) | 226 (100) |
6 | Becoming depressed is a way that people with poor stamina deal with life difficulties | 116 (51.6) | 73 (32.4) | 36 (16.0) | 226 (100) |
7 | Becoming depressed is a natural part of becoming old | 60 (26.6) | 155 (68.6) | 11 (4.8) | 226 (100) |
8 | Are patients with depression discriminated by the general public and avoided? | 72 (31.9) | 128 (56.6) | 26 (11.5) | 26 (11.5) |
9 | Difficult to differentiate unhappiness or a clinical depressive disorder that needs treatment | 90 (39.8) | 96 (42.5) | 40 (17.7) | 226 (100) |
10 | Depression reflects a characteristic response which is not amendable to change | 35 (15.5) | 149 (65.9) | 23 (10) | 226 (100) |
11 | Antidepressants usually produce a satisfactory result in the treatment of depressed patients in general practice | 139 (61.5) | 44 (19.5) | 43 (19.0) | 226 (100) |
12 | Most depressive disorders improve without medication | 152 (67.3) | 50 (22.6) | 24 (10.6) | 226 (100) |
13 | The primary health care worker could be a useful person to support depressed patients | 197 (87.2) | 17 (7.5) | 12 (5.3) | 226 (100) |
14 | There is little to be offered those depressed patients who do not respond to what primary health care workers do | 64 (28.4) | 122 (54.2 | 39 (17.3) | 226 (100) |
15 | If depressed patients need antidepressants, they are better off with psychiatrists than with primary health care workers | 162 (71.7) | 30 (13.3) | 34 (15.0) | 226 (100) |
16 | Psychotherapy for depressed patients should be left to a specialist | 154 (64.4) | 58 (25.8) | 13 (5.7) | 226 (100) |
17 | If psychotherapy were freely available, this would be more beneficial than antidepressants for most depressed patients | 162 (71.7) | 30 (13.3) | 34 (15.0) | 226 (100) |
18 | I feel comfortable dealing with depressed patients | 60 (26.6) | 149 (65.9) | 17 (7.5) | 226 (100) |
19 | Working with depressed patients is heavy going, tedious or difficult | 168 (74.3) | 45 (19.9) | 13 (5.8) | 226 (100) |
20 | It is rewarding to spend time looking after depressed patients | 148 (65.5) | 49 (21.7) | 29 (12.8) | 226 (100) |