Diagnosing and Treating Depressions in Nursing Home Residents: Challenges for GPs

Abstract

Depression is more common in elderly people residing in nursing homes than it is in people of the same age residing in the community. In Australia, general practitioners (GPs) are the primary providers of medical services to the elderly in nursing homes; however, they often under-diagnose and/or inadequately treat depression in this population. The difficulties experienced by GPs are confounded by the breakdown in the continuity of care that is evident when a patient is admitted into a nursing home, by inadequate communication between GPs and nursing home staff, and systems within the nursing home that are not conducive to general practice. This paper discusses the challenges GPs face in diagnosing and treating depression in nursing home residents, and provides suggestions for strategies that may overcome these challenges.