Depression and musculoskeletal problems.

摘要

A recent study by Mallen et al, published in the October issue of the BJGP, concluded that older patients consulting their GP due to musculoskeletal pain have frequently comorbid depressive symptoms, and that brief depression screening during the consultation can miss a large number of persons with depressive symptoms. The authors found that a total of 51.4% of the study participants had depressive symptoms, according to a screening instrument self-administered at home (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS), versus only 20.8% on GP-administered screening (involving two questions) during the consultation.