ArticleBMJ open2019
'I mean what is depression?' A qualitative exploration of UK general practitioners' perceptions of distinctions between emotional distress and depressive disorder.
Article in BMJ open, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed.
- 'We're all doing different things' - exploring primary care practitioners' perspectives of managing distress: a qualitative study.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2026Article
- Article
- Maintaining physical activity in people with long-term conditions following engagement in physical activity referral schemes: barriers, enablers, and intervention strategies.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2025Article
- Case-finding for depression in primary care (CAIRO): a multicentre, cross-sectional study in England.BMJ open · 2025Article
- Role of primary care in depression relapse: a qualitative study.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2025Article
- Article
- Supporting people with pain-related distress in primary care consultations: a qualitative study.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2022Article
- GPs' identification of patients with mental distress: a coupled questionnaire and cohort study from norwegian urban general practice.BMC primary care · 2022Observational
- Managing COVID-19 related distress in primary care: principles of assessment and management.BMC family practice · 2021Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveDetection of depression is a key part of primary mental healthcare. However, determining whether depressive disorder is or is not present in primary care patients is complex. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore general practitioners' (GPs) perceptions of distinctions between emotional distress and depressive disorder.
designQualitative interview study.
settingFace-to-face and telephone interviews with GPs from the South of England.
participantsGPs working in UK primary care practices (n=21).
methodInterviews followed a semi-structured interview guide, were audio recorded and transcribed. Data were analysed thematically.
resultsViews were divergent when directly considering whether emotional distress could be distinguished from depressive disorder. Some GPs suggested a distinction was not possible as symptoms lay on a continuum, with severity as a proxy for disorder. Others focused on the difficulty of the distinction and were uncertain. Some GPs perceived a distinction and referred to emotional distress as more likely in the presence of a stressor with the absence of biological symptoms. It was also common for GPs to refer to endogenous and reactive depression when considering possible distinctions between distress and depressive disorder.
conclusionsGPs' perceptions of when emotional symptoms reflect disorder varied greatly, with a broad range of views presented. Further research is needed to develop more consistent frameworks for understanding emotional symptoms in primary care.
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