Beliefs and Attitudes of French Family Practitioners toward Depression: The Impact of Training in Mental Health

Abstract

Objective: To study, in a sample of French Family Practitioners (FPs), beliefs and attitudes toward depression and how they vary according to training received in mental health. Methods: The Depression Attitude Questionnaire (DAQ) was completed by 468 FPs from all regions of France, recruited by pharmaceutical company representatives to attend focus groups on the management of depression in general practice. Results: A three-factor model was derived from the DAQ, accounting for 37.7% of the total variance. The correlations between individual items of each component varied from 0.4 to 0.65, with an overall internal consistency of 0.47 (Cronbach's alpha). FPs had an overall neutral position on component 1, professional ease, a positive view on the origins of depression and its amenability to change (component 2), and a belief in the necessity of medication and the benefit of antidepressant therapy (component 3). Training in mental health, specifically through continuing medical education and postgraduate psychiatric hospital training, was significantly and positively associated with both professional ease and a medication approach to treating depression. Conclusion: This study is the first description of the beliefs and attitudes of French FPs toward depression using a standardized measure, the DAQ, despite the instrument's limited psychometric properties. It shows the positive effect of training in mental health on attitudes toward depression.