Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25110516›Full record

ArticleBioPsychoSocial medicine2014

Why do general practitioners prescribe antidepressants to their patients? A pilot study.

Alain Mercier, Isabelle Auger-Aubin, Jean-Pierre Lebeau, Matthieu Schuers, Pascal Boulet, Paul Van Royen, Lieve Peremans

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BioPsychoSocial medicine, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Alain MercierDepartment of General Practice, Rouen University and CIC Inserm 0204, University of Rouen, Rouen, France ; Department of Family practice, Rouen University, Faculty of Medicine, 20 Bd Gambetta, Rouen 76000, France.
Isabelle Auger-AubinDepartment of General Practice, Denis Diderot Paris 7 University, Paris, France.
Jean-Pierre LebeauDepartment of General Practice, Tours University, Tours, France.
Matthieu SchuersDepartment of General Practice, Rouen University and CIC Inserm 0204, University of Rouen, Rouen, France.
Pascal BouletDepartment of General Practice, Rouen University and CIC Inserm 0204, University of Rouen, Rouen, France.
Paul Van RoyenDepartment of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Lieve PeremansDepartment of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium ; Department of Public Health, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe frequency of antidepressant (ADs) prescription is high, with general practitioners (GPs) responsible for about 80% of the prescriptions. Some studies considered prescriptions meet DSM criteria, while others stress inadequate use. The importance of biological and psychosocial determinants of GP prescription behaviour remains little explored. We aimed to describe the importance of these biological and psychosocial determinants and their weight in the daily practice of GPs'.

methodsDuring a week chosen at random, 28 GPs collected the AD prescriptions made within the previous six months, regardless of the reason for the patient contact. Bio psychosocial and AD treatment characteristics were recorded for all patients. In a random sample of 50 patients, patient characteristics were assessed via a structured face-to-face interview with the GP.

resultsThe frequency of AD prescription was 8.90% [3.94 -17.02]. The GPs initiated 65.6% [60.1-70.8] of the prescriptions. The rate of AD prescription for non-psychiatric conditions was 18%. Patients had from 1 to 9 conditions, showing a high level of multi-morbidity. There was a strong influence of past medical history and contextual problems, such as work related problems.

conclusionAD prescription is related to complex contextual situations and multi-morbid patients. GPs use a bio psycho social approach, rather than a purely biological assessment. Awareness of these influences could improve prescription by GPs.

Indexed as

AntidepressantsGeneral practitionerOff label usePrescriptionPrimary care

Identifiers

PMID25110516
PMCPMC4126991

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.