1. Treatment of depression in primary care.
- Author
-
van Weel, Chris, van Weel-Baumgarten, Evelyn, and van Rijswijk, Eric
- Subjects
DIAGNOSIS of mental depression ,PRIMARY care ,MENTAL depression ,THERAPEUTICS ,MANAGEMENT of medical records ,MONETARY incentives ,GENERAL practitioners ,MEDICAL ethics ,QUESTIONNAIRES ,PHYSICIANS' attitudes - Abstract
The author argues that financial incentives for primary care physicians to treat depression devised by the quality and outcomes framework (QOF) are not a substitute for professional judgment. Particular attention is paid to the results of research in this issue of the journal titled "Management of depression in UK general practice in relation to scores on depression severity questionnaires: analysis of medical record data." It is stressed that a physician's judgment is more valuable than guided care.
- Published
- 2009