Table 2.
Rural physicians’ reported practices in the screening and diagnosis of depression in older adults
| Screening and diagnosis practice | Physicians n(%) |
|---|---|
| Symptom† | |
| Sad mood | 76 (100) |
| Loss of interest/pleasure | 74 (97) |
| Decreased energy | 70 (92) |
| Anxiety/irritability | 70 (92) |
| Sleep disturbance | 68 (90) |
| Multiple worries/distress | 68 (90) |
| Numerous unexplained symptoms | 66 (87) |
| Weight loss/gain | 59 (78) |
| Work/relationship dysfunction | 52 (68) |
| Sexual complaints | 38 (50) |
| Pain | 34 (45) |
| Instrument | |
| Mini-Mental State Exam | 22 (29) |
| Beck Depression Inventory | 18 (24) |
| Geriatric Depression Scale | 12 (16) |
| Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale | 7 (9) |
| Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders | 3 (4) |
| Other | 8 (10) |
†
Mean symptoms listed = 8.8 (SD = 2.1).