Proposal Procedure for Primary Care Management of Anxiety or Depression in Spain - Abstract
Introduction: Depression and anxiety are the most common psychiatric disorders attended in Primary Care. This study aims to evaluate the implementation of a simple method to help Primary Care Physicians to assess the patients who may have an anxious and depressive health problem providing them with useful and easy to use tools and to provide them with information on whether or not to allow Temporary Incapacity.
Methods: The intervention consisted of three training sessions about depression and anxiety problems, how to manage them in a Primary Care setting and the implementation of a protocol on assessment of anxious or depressive symptoms which included a collection data form for each patient. The form consisted of Ans5 and Dep5scales, a clinical assessment scale, another associated disability scale and the final diagnostic received.
Results and Discussion: A total of 135 collecting data forms were obtained. Most people showed moderate disability and also a moderate clinical severity assessment. The most common diagnosis was anxiety depression. This result corroborates the usefulness of the transdiagnostic perspective that anxiety and depression clinic often occur together in many patients.
Conclusions: Depression and Anxiety could be assessed and treated more efficiently in Primary Care Settings. The proposal of assessment is valuable due to lack of feasible screening items widespread and accepted. More studies and methods of implementation are needed to be tested in order to get a better assessment and treatment in mental health common illnesses in Primary Care Services.