Epocrates survey: Docs often hesitant to diagnose depression

Epocrates survey: Docs often hesitant to diagnose depression

The vast majority of clinicians reported recommending prescription therapies for their patients with depression. However, more than half said they are hesitant to diagnose depression, mostly because of patient resistance and lack of societal acceptance. That's according to an Epocrates survey of 500 clinicians that aimed to shed light on clinical trends in depression diagnosis, prevalence, and treatment. The survey showed that most respondents reported an increase in depression in the past five years, possibly because of increased disease awareness. Clinicians also indicated that because symptoms may vary by gender and ethnicity, they often are uncertain about diagnosing depression. For example, 30% of respondents reported being less likely to discuss depression with men, and that it is often more difficult to treat men because they are less "open" than women.