[General practitioners' attitudes towards psychotic disorders and their treatment in the primary health care system]

To assess general practitioners' attitudes and behavior towards psychotic disorders, antipsychotic drug prescriptions, and patients with psychosis in primary health care settings.

262 general practitioners (GPs) practicing in primary care settings in Kocaeli province were included in the study. The 20-item questionnaire, which was prepared by the researchers, was sent to all GPs via the Kocaeli branch of the Health Ministry. 195 (74.4%) questionnaires were returned. The GPs' responses and the relations between different variables were examined.

The participation rate among GPs in any education about psychosis and antipsychotic treatment after graduation was 27.2%. The rate seeking structured and advanced education about psychosis was 41.0%. The mean daily number of patients with psychosis examined by GPs in primary care settings during the previous six months was 1.4. They first prescribed any antipsychotic drug by themselves at a rate of 12.8% in the previous six-month. The most frequent reason for antipsychotic prescription was re-prescription (80.0%). The most frequent problem in the pharmacological treatment of psychotic disorders was the drop-out rate of patients (75.9%). The predictors of starting patients with psychosis on medication were the belief that the patients were treatable in primary care and the suspicion of GPs about psychosis.

GPs practicing in primary care settings rarely encounter patients with psychosis. GPs mostly avoid undertaking the responsibility of treating them. However, some are eager to participate in structured education about psychosis in order to have more confidence when diagnosing and treating it.