Antidepressant prescription by general practitioners in the city of Olavarría, Argentina. Qualitative-quantitative analysis

Introduction: Depression is the most common mental health pathology. General practitioners are the most consulted health professionals by depressed patients. The inequitable distribution and shortage of psychiatrists in cities in the interior of the country mean that the coverage of the increased demand for mental health services is insufficient, and that it is up to first-level care doctors to assist patients with depressive disorders. Stigma towards psychiatry and the shortage of psychiatrists, among other factors, are common in the interior of our country. At the same time, many psychiatrists work only in the private health system.

Aim: To analyze the approach to depression by primary care physicians or first contact, whether they prescribe antidepressants and the factors which determine that prescription.

Method: A non-experimental, descriptive, cross-sectional, quantitative and qualitative study was carried out. A semi-structured questionnaire was used as a measurement instrument. The questionnaire was applied to 51 doctors, 22 clinical doctors and 29 generalists from the city of Olavarría, Argentina. In relation to the qualitative analysis, an unstructured interview was carried out.

Results and conclusions: 90.9 % of the clinical doctors and 76.6 % of the general practitioners surveyed in Olavarría treat patients experiencing a depressive episode. Many family doctors agree that the difficulty in accessing psychiatrists who do not serve through the social work system or the public system has an impact on them having to care for depressed patients in their office.