Generalized Anxiety and Depresssion in Primary Care: Prevalence, Recognition, and Management

Determined attitudes toward patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) & major depressive episodes (MDE) in primary care; determined prevalence of GAD, MDE, & comorbid GAD/MDE among primary care patients; assessed physician recognition of GAD & MDE; & described primary care interventions for these patients. 56.9% of physicians viewed GAD as a genuine mental disorder with clinical management problems & considerable patient burden; 27.4% treated GAD patients differently from MDE patients. Pure GAD & MDE were associated with disability, high utilization of health care resources, & suicidality, which were even higher with comorbid GAD/MDE. Only a small minority with GAD were prescribed medications or referred to specialists. (49 refs)