View article

Background. Depression is the commonest mental health problem in elderly people and continues to be underdiagnosed and undertreated.

Aim. To explore the ways that primary care professionals and patients view the causes and management of late-life depression.

Design. A qualitative study using semistructured interviews.

Setting. One Primary Care Trust in North West England.

Participants. Fifteen primary care practitioners comprising nine GPs, three practice nurses, two district nurses and one community nurse; twenty patients who were over the age of 60 and who were participating in a feasibility study of a new model of care for late-life depression [PRIDE Trial: PRimary care Intervention for Depression in the Elderly (a feasibility study in Central Manchester funded by the Department of Health)].

Results. Primary care practitioners conceptualized …