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Psychiatry SHOs should consider psychological treatment for depression

Melissa Willis (East London and City Mental Health Trust, Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London, UK)
Lynette C.M. Low (Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK)
Sagir Parkar (East London and City Mental Health Trust, Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London, UK)
David Curtis (East London and City Mental Health Trust, Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London, UK)

Clinical Governance: An International Journal

ISSN: 1477-7274

Article publication date: 14 August 2007

373

Abstract

Purpose

To determine the extent to which psychiatrists of different grades complied with published recommendations regarding referral for psychological treatment of patients suffering from depression.

Design/methodology/approach

Clinic letters regarding patients with depression were audited to see whether patients were referred for psychological treatment and, if not, whether a reason was recorded. The results were presented and the audit repeated.

Findings

There was little difference in the results of the two audits. Overall, 51 per cent of depressed patients were referred for psychological treatment and 26 per cent were not referred without a reason being given. SHOs were significantly (p=0.008) more likely than other grades not to refer without giving a reason.

Practical implications

SHOs should be encouraged to consider psychological treatment for depression and to record their reasons when not making a referral for this.

Originality/value

This audit has identified a probable reluctance of SHOs to consider referral for psychological treatment and hence suggests that this issue should be specifically addressed as a supervision and training issue.

Keywords

Citation

Willis, M., Low, L.C.M., Parkar, S. and Curtis, D. (2007), "Psychiatry SHOs should consider psychological treatment for depression", Clinical Governance: An International Journal, Vol. 12 No. 3, pp. 150-154. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777270710775855

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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