Empathetic GPs may reduce depression and suicidal thoughts

In the biggest study of depression in older people in Australia, researchers at The University of Western Australia and nationally showed that by educating GPs, it was possible to reduce the prevalence of depression, self-harm and suicidal thoughts in their older patients.

Published in the Annals of Family Medicine, the study found that a physician's empathy and willingness to discuss the emotional concerns of patients might play an important role in reducing self-harm thoughts and depression.

The study's chief investigator, Winthrop Professor Osvaldo Almeida at UWA's Centre for Health and Ageing, said more than 370 GPs and almost 22,000 patients took part in the two-year study. Some of the GPs (the control group) received no structured education while others had their practice reviewed and received relevant educational material and six-monthly newsletters over the two years of the study.

"We wanted to test a more universal approach to depression treatment, one that would not be limited to older people who show overt or slight depressive symptoms," Professor Almeida said.

"The patients seen by the GPs who had received the educational intervention were less likely to display symptoms of depression or self-harming behaviour after two years than the controls. In other words, the relative number of people with these problems decreased in the intervention group.

"What caused these changes is not entirely clear, but the benefits could not be explained by more frequent use of antidepressants or greater contact with health services. The most plausible explanation is that the GPs who received the intervention were more willing to discuss their patients' emotional concerns and that this greater openness and empathy made all the difference."

Professor Almeida said the intervention was simple and inexpensive, although replication of the results is required before the study activities can be recommended for adoption in normal clinical practice.

"Our results are exciting because they indicate that we may be able to decrease the prevalence of depression and self-harm behaviour in the community by means of targeted education of health professionals. They also suggest that, in some instances, the relationship between patients and physicians might be more therapeutic than the drugs they prescribe."

Provided by University of Western Australia