A Randomised Controlled Experimental Study on the Influence of Patient Age on Medical Decisions in Respect to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression in the Elderly

Table 1

Ratings of physicians, means (SD), on the probability (1 = very unlikely, 6 = very likely) of this diagnosis and the need for treatment (1 = very unlikely, 6 = very likely).

Probability of diagnosis	Young	Old
Depression	4.69 (1.18)	4.50 (0.97)	𝑇=1.5,𝑃<0.14
Dementia	1.99 (0.98)	3.63 (1.16)	𝑇=12.2,𝑃<0.001
Anxiety	2.99 (1.26)	2.74 (1.01)	𝑇=2.2,𝑃<0.032
Somatic illness	2.40 (1.15)	3.40 (0.91)	𝑇=1.9,𝑃<0.055
Needed treatment
Supportive counselling	3.80 (1.36)	4.22 (1.24)	𝑇=3.1,𝑃<0.003
Referral to psychiatrist	3.84 (1.48)	3.16 (1.40)	𝑇=4.7,𝑃<0.001
Referral to inpatient care	2.23 (1.14)	1.99 (0.97)	𝑇=2.0,𝑃<0.053
Psychopharmaca	4.26 (1.08)	4.02 (1.02)	𝑇=2.1,𝑃<0.038
Psychotherapy	4.79 (0.99)	3.01 (1.22)	𝑇=13.0,𝑃<0.001