Effects on depression pharmacotherapy of a Dutch general practitioner training program

General practitioners' (GPs) ability to recognize, diagnose and treat depression improved significantly after a comprehensive, 20-h training programme. This study aims to evaluate in more detail the effects of the training on GPs' pharmacotherapy of depression and related issues.

A pretest-posttest design was used. Both in the pre- and post-training phase, a sample was drawn from consecutive patients of the 17 participating GPs. In the pre-training phase we identified a sample of 31 cases with an ICD-10 depression who received an antidepressant from their GP. The sample was followed for 1 year. Outcome measures were: type of antidepressant, dosage, duration and number of target instructions given by the GP. Then we trained the GPs. In the post-training phase, we identified a new sample (n = 47) from their practices and measured the same outcomes.

Improvements were seen in choice for modern antidepressant, adequate dosage, adequate duration, and number of target instructions given.

Observed changes can be due to a period effect, inherent in a pre-post design.

A post-academic hands-on training of GPs can improve depression pharmacotherapy according to clinical guidelines with respect to choice of a modern antidepressant, adequate dosage, adequate duration and psychoeducation.