Chronic and Recurrent Depression in Primary Care: Socio-Demographic Features, Morbidity, and Costs

Table 4

Service use over 3 months, by diagnostic group.

Service^a	Chronic major depression (𝑛=163)		Recurrent depression (𝑛=296)		Dysthymia (𝑛=89)		Total (𝑛=548)
	% using service	Mean number contacts	% using service	Mean number contacts	% using service	Mean number contacts	% using service	Mean number contacts
GP (depression)	63%	1.16	57%	1.16	58%	1.16	59%	1.16
GP (other reason)	61%	1.38	57%	1.16	67%	1.29	60%	1.25
Practice nurse (depression)	9%	0.12	5%	0.06	9%	0.12	7%	0.09
Practice nurse (other)	33%	0.51	31%	0.49	28%	0.40	31%	0.49
Any primary care	85%	—	88%	—	89%	—	87%	—
Psychiatrist	4%	0.13	5%	0.08	4%	0.07	5%	0.09
Psychologist	7%	0.31³	1%	0.03³	3%	0.06	3%	0.11
Counsellor	16%	0.93²	16%	0.92¹	9%	0.33¹	15%	0.82
Any mental health contacts	28%	—	28%	—	16%	—	26%	—
Any hospital services	40%	—	35%	—	37%	—	37%	—
Any alternative therapy	7%	0.21²	11%	0.78¹	1%	0.01^1,2	9%	0.48
Any other health and community services	26%	—	25%	—	27%	—	26%	—
Anti-depressants	80%	—	72%	—	70%	—	74%	—
Other medications	77%	—	63%	—	79%	—	70%	—

^aAny primary care includes all GP and practice nurse contacts, other primary care services. Any mental health services include psychiatrist, psychologist, counsellor, psychotherapy, psychiatric community nurse. Any hospital services include inpatient and outpatient services for depression or other reason, A&E or minor injuries unit. Any alternative therapy includes, for example, hydrotherapy, spiritual healing. Any other health and community services include community health services, social work and other social care, self-help and support services, support provided by the voluntary sector.
¹Significant difference between dysthymia and recurrent depression groups.
²Significant difference between dysthymia and chronic major depression groups.
³Significant difference between recurrent depression and chronic major depression groups.