Skip to main content
Download PDF

How patients understand depression associated with chronic physical disease – a systematic review

BMC Family Practice volume 13, Article number: 41 (2012) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Clinicians are encouraged to screen people with chronic physical illness for depression. Screening alone may not improve outcomes, especially if the process is incompatible with patient beliefs. The aim of this research is to understand people’s beliefs about depression, particularly in the presence of chronic physical disease.

Methods

A mixed method systematic review involving a thematic analysis of qualitative studies and quantitative studies of beliefs held by people with current depressive symptoms.

MEDLINE, EMBASE, PSYCHINFO, CINAHL, BIOSIS, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library, UKCRN portfolio, National Research Register Archive, Clinicaltrials.gov and OpenSIGLE were searched from database inception to 31st December 2010.

A narrative synthesis of qualitative and quantitative data, based initially upon illness representations and extended to include other themes not compatible with that framework.

Results

A range of clinically relevant beliefs was identified from 65 studies including the difficulty in labeling depression, complex causal factors instead of the biological model, the roles of different treatments and negative views about the consequences of depression. We found other important themes less related to ideas about illness: the existence of a self-sustaining ‘depression spiral’; depression as an existential state; the ambiguous status of suicidal thinking; and the role of stigma and blame in depression.

Conclusions

Approaches to detection of depression in physical illness need to be receptive to the range of beliefs held by patients. Patient beliefs have implications for engagement with depression screening.

Peer Review reports

Background

Clinicians are often encouraged to identify emotional problems in patients with physical disorders. For example, guidance from the UK National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) states that “screening should be undertaken in primary care …for depression in high-risk groups” [1]. Up to a quarter of people with diabetes or coronary heart disease have depression [2, 3] which is associated with poorer outcomes [4]. Policy initiatives in the UK have included financial incentives for general practitioners to screen all patients with coronary heart disease or diabetes [5] and expanded access to psychological services for people with long-term physical conditions [6]. Over 92% of eligible patients were screened in 2009–10 [7]. However, it is uncertain whether incentivising screening alone has improved patient outcomes [8].

Three conditions need to be satisfied for screening to improve outcomes: engagement of primary care staff with the screening process [9]; a systematic approach to patient management following detection [10–12], and patient engagement with the screening process. This review concentrates on the third condition which is relatively neglected in the previously published literature. Consultation models emphasize the importance of understanding patient perspectives in clinical care [13]. This may be particularly challenging in states such as depression which lack clear cut diagnostic boundaries, and in the context of depression screening in physical illness which usually takes place at chronic disease clinics, or opportunistically during other consultations, where time to explore patient beliefs is often limited. Beliefs will also influence the subsequent management of depression including adherence to anti-depressant medication regimes and referral to specialist mental health services [14–16].

We conducted a mixed methods systematic review of studies of people with current depressive symptoms, which investigated their beliefs about those symptoms.

Methods

Search strategy

The review protocol can be requested from the study authors. We sought English-language studies of adults with current depressive symptoms that reported beliefs about depression. We systematically searched for articles and included studies of beliefs associated with chronic physical illness in stage 1 and then systematically searched for studies that included all depression beliefs in stage 2. Searches were limited to primary care where that was possible using the database search terms. We excluded non-English language studies and studies that assessed subjects without current depression or, explored beliefs about other mental health disorders (including anxiety, post-natal depression or bipolar disorder). Figure1 detail our search methods [17]. Appendix 1 details the search terms applied. We (SA) also reviewed reference lists of all included studies.

Figure 1
figure 1

PRISMA chart of search strategy and identification of publications included in the review.

Full size image

Initial screening of titles and abstracts, with exclusion of those that were obviously not related to depression beliefs, was undertaken by one reviewer (SA) with 18% (913) of studies reviewed by a second reviewer (KM). Full-text articles were assessed in detail by two reviewers (SA and KM) for all potentially eligible studies. All disagreements between reviewers were resolved by discussion.

Data extraction and quality assessment

Data on study participants, methods and findings were abstracted from included studies using a standardised form specifically developed for this review. The findings of qualitative studies were entered verbatim into NVivo8, a qualitative data analysis software package. We assessed study quality using established criteria [18]. Authors were contacted for further information as required.

Data synthesis

We conducted a narrative synthesis [19]. This approach to the synthesis of evidence relies primarily on the use of words and text to summarise and explain the findings of multiple studies. It is especially suited to a study like ours in which there is wide variation in study type included. Stage one involved a thematic and content analysis of the qualitative data. We initially categorised beliefs about depression using Leventhal’s Illness Representations [20], a framework for characterising patients’ beliefs about illnesses [21–23].

The illness representation includes five main categories of belief: identity (beliefs concerning label and associated symptoms), cause (factors and conditions believed to have caused a condition), timeline (acute, cyclical or chronic), consequences (expected effects on physical, social and psychological well-being) and the control and/or cure (to what extent treatment and behaviours will help), along with a parallel emotional representation. We also identified beliefs not adequately captured by the framework and developed new themes which were agreed by consensus. The coding of themes was checked for 10% of studies by a second researcher.

Reviews of the quantitative findings were mapped onto the framework derived from the qualitative literature. For example, the finding that 68% of participants in one study felt that having depression changed the way they viewed themselves [24] supported the theme of existential & self.

In stage two we assessed the robustness of the synthesis by appraising the contribution of weak studies to review findings. Quality was assessed using criteria appropriate to study design [18]. Studies were assigned a score and topics based upon weak studies only were not included in the final analysis.

The final stage involved integrating the findings from the preceding stages into overarching conclusions.

Ethical approval

This project did not require ethical approval.

Results

We identified 7942 abstracts, of which 64 individual studies from 65 reports were included (Figure1). Table1 summarizes all included studies. Studies ranged widely in terms of questions addressed and methods used with 37 studies using qualitative interviews and 27 using self-administered questionnaires. The majority of the studies took place in the UK or the United States. Less than half (45%) applied theoretical frameworks to collect or analyze data, with Leventhal’s Illness Representations being the most commonly used in both qualitative and quantitative studies. Beliefs about depression associated with chronic physical diseases were identified specifically in only two qualitative studies; however participants in other studies referred to physical ill health in their beliefs. We therefore addressed all beliefs about depression within a single synthetic review. No studies were excluded from the review because of poor quality.

Table 1 Table of included Studies
Full size table

Beliefs could be coded to all the main categories of illness representation. We developed five new thematic categories for beliefs that did not fit well into the illness representations framework. We labeled these: understandability; the depression cycle, existential and self, suicidal thinking and stigma, blame and responsibility. Table2 shows the studies that contributed to each theme. Figure2 shows themes with their associated subthemes.

Table 2 Table of themes identified in each included study
Full size table
Figure 2
figure 2

Map of illness beliefs and their corresponding subthemes.

Full size image

Identity

Depression, depressed and depressive were the most commonly used labels by both authors and study participants. Other labels used by participants were stress, blues, nerves, sadness, loneliness and emotional or mental disorder.

Some participants said they would rather not know they had depression, whereas others believed the label meant treatment was possible and they were not ‘mad’. Some felt depression or its symptoms were a normal part of life and not a disease and that the word ‘depression’ is used in everyday language without meaning an illness.

“It never occurred to me that I could be depressed, I just thought that I was a nasty person.” [64]

“Did I know what it was? It was pain, but I don’t think I would have called it depression. I think I would have called it my pain.” [60]

Cause

Most study participants could name at least one cause for their depression and many had complex, multi-factorial causes. Most participants believed the causes were external and took the form of significant negative life events and stress rather than subscribing to a mainly biological model. Co-existing physical illnesses were mentioned by several participants. Where the biological model was mentioned it was either to disagree with it or to mention it alongside other causal beliefs.

“I have diabetes and other people with diabetes have experience with depression because of our treatment, and the things we have to do, and the way we have to live now [which is] different from the way we were used to doing things before.” [59]

“I think it [depression] is due to a lack of hormones, that is, a consequence of being exposed to stress over such a long period of time.” [44]

Cure and/or control

Study participants found it difficult to acknowledge the need for help; however, many believed the GP was the right person to approach. Participants had strong beliefs over whether medication or talking therapies would help them. Some mentioned beliefs about alternative therapies such as St. John’s wort or using prayer, often used alone if the depression was not seen as having a severe impact upon their life. A few participants were unable to identify any cure or control and some felt that depression is incurable.

“When I talk about my problems I think about them and I feel worse. So I don’t know if it really is better to talk about them because you remember all your problems. Sometimes I feel better when I am doing other things and not talking about it to anyone.” [58]

“Well I think it’s a waste of time really, he’ll just give me yet another pill and I shall still be depressed because of all the other things that are wrong with me.” [43]

Timeline

The timescales participants mentioned for onset, duration and response to treatment were reported as varying markedly with acute, cyclical and chronic timescales being mentioned. The onset was described as “a bolt out of the blue” or “slow and insidious”. Treatment response was seen as a short or long process.

“I am so afraid that I am going to remain depressed. That is the only thing I fear.” [79]

“Well, if it’s only something that’s going to be short term, then obviously it’s worth getting the help and then sort your problems out and see how things go after that, more or less.” [69]

Consequences

Depression was seen as having mostly negative consequences, affecting all present and future aspects of life, including work, social and home life and physical health, especially where there was a co-existing illness. Some held particular fears of losing control and embarrassing themselves.

“So you’ll be dying of sadness, you get that sadness because the doctors say that if you stay really sad you begin to get other types of diseases like those that come from anguish, sadness, from depression you go on getting other types of disease and you end up dying too. Besides depression, it sets off other systems within your organism and ends up killing you.” [88]

“I was already on a pedestal, being the first doctor ever in the family, and my mom and dad didn’t want this to take me down from that pedestal in the other family’s eyes.” [54]

Emotions

We could not distinguish an emotional representation for depression from emotional symptoms of depression. Participants associated depression emotionally with fear, anger, sadness, despair, and guilt.

“Anxiety, anger, confusion, frustration for me is associated with the depression. Not sadness so much.” [59]

“I’m afraid…of being an invalid…not doing the things I want to do.” [32]

Understandability

Participants’ beliefs about depression were not always internally consistent. Some understood their depression in terms of their life story and gave coherent beliefs. Thereby, a woman who believed the cause of her depression was her poor eyesight that stopped her from doing things believed the cure for this was to “get her eyes sorted” [35]. For others depression was “unexplained” and “not understood” which led to conflicting and less fixed beliefs. For example, one study reported of people with depression “Their explanations changed within their narratives and they tried out several explanations, not finding one that explained all of their experience” [55], leading to uncertainty about how to resolve problems.

"Sometimes the account of depression contained several narrative episodes based on more than one storyline.[55]

Depression cycle

Depression was sometimes seen as a spiraling process, with episodes being both a consequence of previous depression and a cause of new onset of depression. These data could not be coded to the cause construct or the cyclical timeframe construct as one episode of depression was believed to be the cause of a subsequent episode of depression itself. Being depressed caused individuals to become more isolated and lonely, and made the sufferer further depressed. Having depression left the person with an internal weakness and predisposed to future depression, a cycle from which it was hard to break out. There are few other diseases where the disease itself can be seen in this way, and in this respect, this depression belief is unique.

“Anxieties cause depression and depression causes self-depreciation.” [59]

Existential and self

This theme concerned the individual’s sense of identity and differs from the identity of the disease theme. For some participants, even more than in physical diseases, depression is deeply interwoven in everyday life, in an existential understanding of the self and in a person’s sense of social and individual identity. It defined the person as who they were in their entirety, not as a consequence of depression but more of a statement of their individuality. Having depression changed the way they viewed themselves and their personality. Depression gave them a new identity, and they joined a category of person in which they had not previously seen themselves. For many this was a distressing and unwelcome experience. On questioning, many participants strongly agreed that having depression affected the way they saw themselves as a person [24, 34].

“You know, I was a mental patient. That was my identity…depression is very private…It’s no longer just my own pain. I am a mental patient. I am a depressive. I am a depressive [said slowly and with intensity]. This is my identity. I can’t separate myself from that. When people know me they’ll have to know about my psychiatric history, because that’s who I am.” [60]

“And when I came out I did feel quite odd because she gave me a prescription. I couldn’t. I suddenly felt like I fell into a bracket of a type of people, emotionally in my head. Which is quite a strange feeling really because . . . I’m not like I thought I was and now I’m a bit different” [48]."

Suicidal thinking

Suicide was rarely mentioned but when it was, it had an ambiguous status and did not fit within an obvious theme and was often a gender specific belief. Suicidal thinking was seen as symptom of depression, something people would never suffer with when well. For others, suicide was a consequence; the depression was so severe that suicide was an understandable response to suffering. It could also be seen as a control mechanism – a means of getting relief from their distress, and the most acceptable way of dealing with a problem. Suicide required a lot of self control and counteracted the image of being weak for having depression, particularly amongst males [54].

“In the beginning, you may not know what’s happening to you… if it gets worse and you don’t get help, people eventually hurt themselves with drugs or they can take their own life.” [83]

“Men who kill themselves are doing what maybe a lot of men have been taught to do. Literally they are taking their lives in their own hands because that’s what guys are taught to do. You know, to take care of it, and they take care of it in a way that is absolutely what they believe to be the right thing to do.” [54]

Stigma, blame and responsibility

Participants feared the outcome of others knowing about their condition. Depression was seen as poorly understood by the public, and misrepresented in the media, so that sufferers were to blame or responsible for their depression. This idea of blameworthiness was different from the situation when external factors were clearly contributing. For example, a severe economic depression in Finland was seen as being responsible for the increase in depression and was socially acceptable [55]. Participants were ashamed of being seen as not been able to cope – the stigma beliefs they had attached to people suffering from depression – and were now a part of themselves. Perceived stigma in itself had consequences, such as their judgment would no longer be trusted whilst they suffered from depression, leading to employment problems and the loss of friendships.

“When you have an operation you have friends who you can talk to. Last year, I had an accident and I received 45 get-well cards, but you go down with depression and nobody knocks on your door.” [70]

“The reason why it was hard to get psychiatric help was because of pride. I didn’t want people to think, “How did he end up this bad?” I just don’t want to be one of those crazy people, and it’s basically admitting that I am not in charge of my own emotions.” [76]

Discussion

Summary of main findings

Our most striking finding is the wide range of beliefs held by people experiencing symptoms when they are questioned, and importantly, although we started with a framework based upon how people think about illness, not all the beliefs we identified could be fitted into this structure. These themes have not been actively looked for in previous literature and therefore the number of studies contributing to each theme is small. They could not be fitted into the illness representations framework without losing some of the most interesting and potentially clinically significant beliefs about depression.

Our new themes support ideas from the health psychology literature. Sense of Coherence is said to assist individual coping with illness by facilitating understanding of the challenge of illness and by allowing the individual to integrate the illness experience with a sense of personal meaningfulness [89]. It is therefore closely related to our themes of understandability and existential and self. Sense of Coherence has been associated with good health and especially with good mental health [90].

There was no evidence that the selection criteria and depression status of the participants influenced beliefs. For example beliefs about whether depression symptoms are a normal part of life were endorsed in studies including participants who were recruited following self-diagnosis of depression, a diagnosis in the medical records and those identified by screening or diagnostic interview. This suggests that beliefs about depression can be similar, regardless of whether a person is formally diagnosed.

Comparison with existing literature

We identified a greater diversity of beliefs than in previous review of the beliefs of people with current depression [16], perhaps because we actively looked for beliefs outside the framework of illness representations. That study also had a wider focus, including beliefs of the general public and those suffering from other problems such as anxiety [16].

Strengths and limitations of the study

Our review strengths include the comprehensive search strategy, the development of themes from methodologically robust studies, the systematic approach to synthesis and the integration of both qualitative and quantitative data. We used one increasingly common approach to integrating mixed data although others exist [19]. The sensitive search strategy employed meant that many non-relevant articles were found in the searches; however this has hopefully ensured that no relevant articles were missed.

Stage 1 identified only two studies with beliefs associated with a chronic physical illness [32, 79]. So in stage 2 we included all depression beliefs. Beliefs associated with a physical illness may differ from those which are not, but the difference is likely to be on emphasis rather than in specific content. For example, symptoms of illness or its treatment may be seen as a cause of depression; or physical symptoms and depression may interact so that the consequences of their co-existence are felt more severely. Cause and consequence are existing themes in our framework, here given new content but not displaced by a new theme. Limiting the scope of this review to primary care may have meant that potentially relevant studies were missed but increased the relevance of this review to the current management of depression in primary care, such as case-finding for at-risk people. In the absence of established methodological consensus on whether or not to include quotations from original studies in a review of this type, we opted for inclusion to enhance illustration of the themes [91].

Implications for further research and clinical practice

As evidence accumulates [92] to show that chronic physical disease is a risk factor for depression, and that depression has a detrimental effect on morbidity and mortality, health professionals are likely to be encouraged to actively seek such at risk people. If we are unable to understand how patients think about depression and take into account their beliefs then the uptake and outcomes of depression screening are likely to be compromised, as well as patient concordance with any subsequent depression management. Particularly important are likely to be beliefs about the inappropriateness of having a quasi-diagnostic label, about the origins of depression in life problems and about medication being inappropriate. Equally important but often neglected is the evidence that not everybody thinks of depression as being illness-like, such beliefs being incompatible in a more fundamental way with interventions based upon screen-treat approaches in healthcare. Our findings are relevant to patients with physical illnesses and we are undertaking two further studies to investigate beliefs about depression associated with a physical illness to pursue this. In Table3 we summarize the clinical implications of our findings.

Table 3 Implications derived from themes
Full size table

These considerations are important when there is a financial reward for administering a screening test without clear evidence of benefit, and when patients do not undergo an informed consent process which includes the risks and benefits of testing prior to the test being administered.

Conclusions

We need approaches to detection of depression in physical illness that are sensitive to the range of beliefs held by patients. Further research is needed to understand fully how people comprehend depression associated with a physical illness and how this influences help-seeking and engagement with health care services.

Appendix 1 – search terms

A.1. Ovid MEDLINE (1950-present day)

  1. 1)

    exp *Attitude to Health/

  2. 2)

    exp *Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice/

  3. 3)

    (illness adj2 (cognit* or schemat* or percept* or represent* or belie* or attitud* or behav* or reason*)).tw.

  4. 4)

    (depress* adj2 (cognit* or schemat* or percept* or represent* or belie* or attitud* or behav* or reason*)).tw.

  5. 5)

    exp *“Patient Acceptance of Health Care”/

  6. 6)

    exp *Models, Psychological/

  7. 7)

    (health belie* adj2 model*).tw.

  8. 8)

    (theor* adj2 plan* adj2 behav*).tw.

  9. 9)

    (health* adj2 action* adj2 process*).tw.

  10. 10)

    (social* adj2 cognit* adj2 model*).tw.

  11. 11)

    (protect* adj2 motiv* adj2 theor*).tw.

  12. 12)

    (theor* adj2 reason* adj2 action*).tw.

  13. 13)

    (common* adj2 sense*).tw. 1676

  14. 14)

    (self* adj2 regulat*).tw.

  15. 15)

    1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 14

  16. 16)

    exp *Depression/

  17. 17)

    exp *Depressive Disorder/

  18. 18)

    depress*.tw.

  19. 19)

    16 or 17 or 18

  20. 20)

    exp Family Practice/

  21. 21)

    exp Primary Health Care/

  22. 22)

    exp Physicians, Family/

  23. 23)

    ((general or family) adj practi$).tw.

  24. 24)

    family physic$.tw.

  25. 25)

    (primary adj2 care).tw.

  26. 26)

    (gp or gps).tw.

  27. 27)

    20 or 21 or 22 or 23 or 24 or 25

  28. 28)

    15 and 19 and 27

  29. 29)

    limit 28 to “all adult (19 plus years)”

A.2. Ovid Embase (1980-present day)

  1. 1)

    exp *attitude to health/

  2. 2)

    exp *health belief/

  3. 3)

    exp *Health Belief Model/

  4. 4)

    exp *patient attitude/

  5. 5)

    (illness adj2 (cognit* or schemat* or percept* or represent* or belie* or attitud* or behave* or reason*)).tw.

  6. 6)

    (depress* adj2 (cognit* or schemat* or percept* or represent* or belie* or attitud* or behave* or reason*)).tw.

  7. 7)

    exp psychological model/

  8. 8)

    (health belie* adj2 model*).tw.

  9. 9)

    (theor* adj2 plan* adj2 behav*).tw.

  10. 10)

    (health* adj2 action* adj2 process*).tw.

  11. 11)

    (social* adj2 cognit* adj2 model*).tw.

  12. 12)

    (protect* adj2 motivat* adj2 theor*).tw.

  13. 13)

    (theor* adj2 reason* adj2 action*).tw.

  14. 14)

    (common* adj2 sense*).tw.

  15. 15)

    (self* adj2 regulat*).tw.

  16. 16)

    1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 14 or 15

  17. 17)

    exp *depression/

  18. 18)

    depress*.tw.

  19. 19)

    17 or 18

  20. 20)

    exp general practice/

  21. 21)

    exp primary health care/

  22. 22)

    exp general practitioner/

  23. 23)

    ((general or family) adj pract*).tw.

  24. 24)

    family physic*.tw.

  25. 25)

    (primary adj2 care).tw.

  26. 26)

    (gp or gps).tw.

  27. 27)

    20 or 21 or 22 or 23 or 24 or 25 or 26

  28. 28)

    16 and 19 and 27

A.3. Ovid PsychINFO (1806-present day)

  1. 1)

    exp *Client Attitudes/

  2. 2)

    exp *Consumer Attitudes/

  3. 3)

    exp *Health Attitudes/

  4. 4)

    exp *Health Knowledge/

  5. 5)

    exp *“Mental Illness (Attitudes Toward)”/

  6. 6)

    (illness adj2 (cognit* or schemat* or percept* or represent* or belie* or attitud* or behave* or reason*)).tw.

  7. 7)

    (depress* adj2 (cognit* or schemat* or percept* or represent* or belie* or attitud* or behave* or reason*)).tw.

  8. 8)

    (health belie* adj2 model*).tw.

  9. 9)

    (theor* adj2 plan* adj2 behav*).tw.

  10. 10)

    (health* adj2 action* adj2 process*).tw.

  11. 11)

    (social* adj2 cognit* adj2 model*).tw.

  12. 12)

    (protect* adj2 motiv* adj2 theor*).tw.

  13. 13)

    (theor* adj2 reason* adj2 action*).tw.

  14. 14)

    (common* adj2 sense*).tw.

  15. 15)

    (self* adj2 regulat*).tw.

  16. 16)

    1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 14 or 15

  17. 17)

    exp *major depression/

  18. 18)

    exp *“Depression (Emotion)”/

  19. 19)

    depress*.tw.

  20. 20)

    17 or 18 or 19

  21. 21)

    exp Primary Health Care/

  22. 22)

    exp General Practitioners/

  23. 23)

    exp Family Medicine/

  24. 24)

    exp Family Physicians/

  25. 25)

    ((general or family) adj practi*).tw.

  26. 26)

    family physic*.tw.

  27. 27)

    (primary adj2 care).tw.

  28. 28)

    (gp or gps).tw.

  29. 29)

    21 or 22 or 23 or 24 or 25 or 26 or 27

  30. 30)

    16 and 20 and 29

  31. 31)

    limit 30 to adulthood <18+ years>

A.4. EBSCO CINAHL (1982-present day)

  1. 1)

    (MM “Attitude to Mental Illness”)

  2. 2)

    MM “Patient Attitudes”

  3. 3)

    MM Attitude to health

  4. 4)

    TX (health belie* N2 model*) or TX (theor* N2 plan* N2 behav*) or TX (health* N2 action* N2 process*) or TX (social* N2 cognit* N2 model*) or TX (protect* N2 motiv* N2 theor*) or TX (theor* N2 reason* N2 action*) or TX (common* N2 sense*) OR TX (self* N2 regulat*)

  5. 5)

    TX illness N2 cognit* or schemat* or percept* or represent* or belie* of attitud* or behav* or reason*

  6. 6)

    TX depress* N2 cognit* or schemat* or percept* or represent* or belie* or attitud* or behav* or reason*

  7. 7)

    1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6

  8. 8)

    (MM “Depression+”)

  9. 9)

    TX depress*

  10. 10)

    8 or 9

  11. 11)

    (MH “Family Practice”)

  12. 12)

    (MH “Primary Health Care”)

  13. 13)

    (MH “Physicians, Family”)

  14. 14)

    TX (general or family N2 practi*) or TX family physic* or TX primary N2 care or TX (gp or gps)

  15. 15)

    11 or 12 or 13 or 14

  16. 16)

    7 and 10 and 15

A.5. ISI web of science (including science citation index expanded, and conference proceedings citation index, 1898–present day)

  1. 1)

    Topic = (attitude to mental illness)

  2. 2)

    Topic = (patient attitudes)

  3. 3)

    Topic = (attitude to health)

  4. 4)

    Topic = (health knowledge)

  5. 5)

    Topic = (patient acceptance of healthcare)

  6. 6)

    Topic = ((illness SAME (cognit* OR schemat* OR percept* OR represent* OR belie* OR attitud* OR behav* or reason*))) OR Topic = ((depress* SAME (cognit* OR schemat* OR percept* OR represent* OR belie* OR attitud* OR behav* or reason*)))

  7. 7)

    Topic = (psychological models) OR Topic = ((health belie* SAME model*)) OR Topic = ((theor* SAME plan* SAME behave*)) OR TOPIC = ((health SAME action* SAME process*)) OR Topic = (((social* SAME cognit* SAME model*)) OR Topic = ((protect* SAME motiv* SAME theor*)) OR Topic = ((theor* SAME reason* SAME action*)) OR Topic = ((common* SAME sense*)) OR Topic = ((self* SAME regulat*))

  8. 8)

    1 OR 2 OR 3 OR 4 OR 5 OR 6 OR 7

  9. 9)

    Topic = (depression) OR Topic = (depress*)

  10. 10)

    Topic = (primary SAME care) OR Topic = (Family SAME physic*) OR Topic = (gp OR gps) OR Topic = ((general OR family) practice*) OR Topic = (family SAME medic*)

  11. 11)

    8 AND 9 AND 10

A.6. Cochrane library, Wiley InterScience, 2009 issue 4 (including the Cochrane database of systematic reviews, database of abstracts of reviews of effects, Cochrane central register of controlled trials, health technology assessment database, NHS economic evaluation database, and about the Cochrane collaboration)

  1. 1)

    Title – depress* AND (attitude* OR belie* OR percept* OR cognit* OR schemat* OR represent* OR behave* OR reason*)

BIOSIS (previews)

  1. 1)

    exp Behavioral biology - Human behavior/

  2. 2)

    (illness adj2 (cognit* or schemat* or percept* or represent* or belie* or attitud* or behav* or reason*)).tw.

  3. 3)

    (depress* adj2 (cognit* or schemat* or percept* or represent* or belie* or attitud* or behav* or reason*)).tw.

  4. 4)

    (health belie* adj2 model*).tw.

  5. 5)

    (theor* adj2 plan* adj2 behav*).tw.

  6. 6)

    (health* adj2 action* adj2 process*).tw.

  7. 7)

    (social adj2 cognit* adj2 theor*).tw.

  8. 8)

    (protect* adj2 motiv* adj2 theor*).tw.

  9. 9)

    (theor* adj2 reason* adj2 action*).tw.

  10. 10)

    (common* adj2 sense*).tw.

  11. 11)

    (self* adj2 regulat*).tw.

  12. 12)

    1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11

  13. 13)

    exp “Behavioral and Mental Disorders”/

  14. 14)

    exp Psychiatry/

  15. 15)

    depress*.tw.

  16. 16)

    13 or 14 or 15

  17. 17)

    ((general or family) adj practi*).tw.

  18. 18)

    family physic*.tw.

  19. 19)

    (primary adj2 care).tw.

  20. 20)

    (gp or gps).tw.

  21. 21)

    17 or 18 or 19 or 20

  22. 22)

    12 and 16 and 21

  23. 23)

    limit 22 to human

  24. 24)

    limit 23 to adult

A.7. The National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network Coordinating Centre (NIHR CRN CC)

  1. 1)

    Topic – All

  2. 2)

    Title – depression

A.8. The national research register archive

  1. 1)

    Keywords – depressive disorder AND attitude-to-health

A.9. Www.ClinicalTrials.Gov

  1. 1)

    Title – depression AND attitudes

A.10. OpenSIGLE – grey literature

  1. 1)

    Keyword = depression

Funding

This project was not externally funded.

References

  1. National Institute of Clinical Excellence: Depression: Management of depression in primary and secondary care. National Clinical Practice Guidelines. Volume 23. 2004, National Institute for Clinical Excellence, London, 362-

    Google Scholar 

  2. Goldney RD, Phillips PJ, Fisher LJ, Wilson DH: Diabetes, depression, and quality of life. Diabetes Care. 2004, 27 (5): 1066-1070. 10.2337/diacare.27.5.1066.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Rudisch B, Nemeroff CB: Epidemiology of comorbid coronary artery disease and depression. Biol Psychiatry. 2003, 54 (3): 227-240. 10.1016/S0006-3223(03)00587-0.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Carney RM, Freedland KE, Miller GE, Jaffe AS: Depression as a risk factor for cardiac mortality and morbidity: a review of potential mechanisms. J Psychosom Res. 2002, 53 (4): 897-902. 10.1016/S0022-3999(02)00311-2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Whooley MA, Avins AL, Miranda J, Browner WS: Case-finding instruments for depression. Two questions are as good as many.[see comment]. J Gen Intern Med. 1997, 12 (7): 439-445. 10.1046/j.1525-1497.1997.00076.x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Department of Health: Talking therapies: a four-year plan of action. 2011

    Google Scholar 

  7. Quality and outcomes framework - online GP practice results database. [http://www.qof.ic.nhs.uk/]

  8. Subramanian DN, Hopayian K: An audit of the first year of screening for depression in patients with diabetes and ischaemic heart disease under the Quality and Outcomes Framework. Qual Prim Care. 2008, 16 (5): 341-344.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Barley E, Murray J, Walters P, Tylee A: Managing depression in primary care: a meta-synthesis of qualitative and quantitative research from the UK to identify barriers and facilitators. BMC Fam Pract. 2011, 12 (1): 47-10.1186/1471-2296-12-47.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Dowrick C, Buchan I: Twelve month outcome of depression in general practice: does detection or disclosure make a difference?. BMJ. 1995, 311 (7015): 1274-1276. 10.1136/bmj.311.7015.1274.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Gilbody SM, House A, Sheldon T: Screening and case finding instruments for depression [Systematic Review]. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009, 3: 3-

    Google Scholar 

  12. Pignone MP, Gaynes BN, Rushton JL, Burchell CM, Orleans CT, Mulrow CD, Lohr KN: Screening for depression in adults: a summary of the evidence for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Ann Intern Med. 2002, 136 (10): 765-776.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Kurtz S, Silverman J, Benson J, Draper J: Marrying content and process in clinical method teaching: enhancing the Calgary-Cambridge guides. Academic Med. 2003, 78 (8): 802-809. 10.1097/00001888-200308000-00011.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Lynch J, Kendrick T, Moore M, Johnston O, Smith PWF: Patients’ beliefs about depression and how they relate to duration of antidepressant treatment. Use of a US measure in a UK primary care population. Primary Care Mental Health. 2006, 4 (3): 207-217.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Johnston O, Kumar S, Kendall K, Peveler R, Gabbay J, Kendrick T: Qualitative study of depression management in primary care: GP and patient goals, and the value of listening. Br J Gen Pract. 2007, 57 (544): 1E-14E. 10.3399/096016407782318026.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Prins MA, Verhaak PFM, Bensing JM, van der Meer K: Health beliefs and perceived need for mental health care of anxiety and depression - The patients’ perspective explored. Clin Psychol Rev. 2008, 28 (6): 1038-1058. 10.1016/j.cpr.2008.02.009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Liberati A, Altman DG, Tetzlaff J, Mulrow C, Gotzsche PC, Ioannidis JPA, Clarke M, Devereaux PJ, Kleijnen J, Moher D: The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate healthcare interventions: explanation and elaboration. Br Med J. 2009, 339: 37-

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination: Systematic Reviews: CRD’s guidance for undertaking reviews in health care. 2001, University of York, York, 292-2

    Google Scholar 

  19. Popay J, Roberts H, Sowden A, Petticrew M, Arai L, Rodgers M, Britten N, Roen K, Steven D: Guidance on the Conduct of Narrative Synthesis in Systematic Reviews. 2006, Lancaster, ESRC Methods, 1

    Google Scholar 

  20. Cameron LD, Leventhal H: The Self-Regulation of Health and Illness Behaviour. 2003, Routledge,

    Google Scholar 

  21. Hampson SE: Illness Representations and the Self-Management of Diabetes. Perceptions of Health and Illness. Edited by: Petrie KJ, Weinman J. 1997, Harwood Academic Publishers, Amsterdam, 323-348.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Petrie KJ, Weinman JA: Perceptions of Health and Illness. 1997, Harwood Academic Publishers, Amsterdam, 1

    Google Scholar 

  23. Lobban F, Barrowclough C, Jones S: A review of the role of illness models in severe mental illness. Clin Psychol Rev. 2003, 23 (2): 171-196. 10.1016/S0272-7358(02)00230-1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Brown C, Dunbar-Jacob J, Palenchar DR, Kelleher KJ, Bruehlman RD, Sereika S, Thase ME: Primary care patients’ personal illness models for depression: a preliminary investigation. Fam Pract. 2001, 18 (3): 314-320. 10.1093/fampra/18.3.314.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Addis ME, Truax P, Jacobson NS: Why do people think they are depressed? The reasons for depression questionnaire. Psychotherapy. 1995, 32 (3): 476-483.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Addis ME, JN S: Reasons for depression and the process and outcome of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapies. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1996, 64: 1417-1424.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Allen RL, Walker Z, Shergill SS, D'Ath P, Katona CLE: Attitudes to depression in hospital inpatients: a comparison between older and younger subjects. Aging Ment Health. 1998, 2 (1): 36-39. 10.1080/13607869856911.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Al-Saffar N, Deshmukh A, Eid S, Carter P: Health beliefs and drug compliance of depressed patients in Kuwait. J Social Administrative Pharm. 2003, 20 (4): 142-150.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Backenstrass M, Joest K, Rosemann T, Szecsenyi J: The care of patients with subthreshold depression in primary care: is it all that bad? A qualitative study on the views of general practitioners and patients. BMC Health Serv Res. 2007, 7: 190-10.1186/1472-6963-7-190.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Badger F, Nolan P: Use of self-chosen therapies by depressed people in primary care. J Clin Nurs. 2007, 16 (7): 1343-1352. 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2007.01769.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Bann CM, Parker CB, Bradwejn J, Davidson JR, Vitiello B, Gadde KM: Assessing patient beliefs in a clinical trial of Hypericum perforatum in major depression. Depress Anxiety. 2004, , , 122-144.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Bogner HR, Dahlberg B, de Vries HF, Cahill E, Barg FK: Older patients’ views on the relationship between depression and heart disease. Fam Med. 2008, 40 (9): 652-657.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Brown C, Battista DR, Bruehlman R, Sereika SS, Thase ME, Dunbar-Jacob J: Beliefs about antidepressant medications in primary care patients: relationship to self-reported adherence. Med Care. 2005, 43 (12): 1203-1207. 10.1097/01.mlr.0000185733.30697.f6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Brown C, Battista DR, Sereika SM, Bruehlman RD, Dunbar-Jacob J, Thase ME: Primary care patients’ personal illness models for depression: relationship to coping behavior and functional disability. Gen Hospital Psychiatry. 2007, 29 (6): 492-500. 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2007.07.007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Burroughs H, Lovell K, Morley M, Baldwin R, Burns A, Chew-Graham C: ‘Justifiable depression’: how primary care professionals and patients view late-life depression? A qualitative study. Fam Pract. 2006, 23 (3): 369-377. 10.1093/fampra/cmi115.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Cabassa LJ, Lagomasino IT, Dwight-Johnson M, Hansen MC, Xie B: Measuring Latinos’ perceptions of depression: a confirmatory factor analysis of the Illness Perception Questionnaire. Cultur Divers Ethni Minor Psychol. 2008, 14 (4): 377-384.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Cape J, McCulloch Y: Patients’ reasons for not presenting emotional problems in general practice consultations. Br J Gen Pract. 1999, 49 (448): 875-879.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Chakraborty K, Avasthi A, Kumar S, Grover S: Attitudes and beliefs of patients of first episode depression towards antidepressants and their adherence to treatment. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiol. 2009, 44 (6): 482-488. 10.1007/s00127-008-0468-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Cooper LA, Brown C, Vu HT, Ford DE, Powe NR: How important is intrinsic spirituality in depression care? A comparison of white and African-American primary care patients. 15th Annual Meeting of the Association-for-Health-Services-Research: Jun 21–23 1998. 1998, Blackwell Science Inc, Washington, D.C, 634-638.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Cooper LA, Brown C, Vu HT, Palenchar DR, Gonzales JJ, Ford DE, Powe NR: Primary care patients’ opinions regarding the importance of various aspects of care for depression. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2000, 22 (3): 163-173. 10.1016/S0163-8343(00)00073-6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Cooper LA, Gonzales JJ, Gallo JJ, Rost KM, Meredith LS, Rubenstein LV, Wang N, Ford DE: The acceptability of treatment for depression among African-American, Hispanic, and white primary care patients. Med Care. 2003, 41 (4): 479-489.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Cooper-Patrick L, Powe NR, Jenckes MW, Gonzales JJ, Levine DM, Ford DE: Identification of patient attitudes and preferences regarding treatment of depression. J Gen Intern Med. 1997, 12 (7): 431-438. 10.1046/j.1525-1497.1997.00075.x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Cornford CS, Hill A, Reilly J: How patients with depressive symptoms view their condition: a qualitative study. Fam Pract. 2007, 24 (4): 358-364. 10.1093/fampra/cmm032.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Danielsson U, Bengs C, Lehti A, Hammarstrom A, Johansson EE: Struck by lightning or slowly suffocating - gendered trajectories into depression. BMC Fam Pract. 2009, 10: 56-10.1186/1471-2296-10-56.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  45. Dejman M, Ekbad S, Forouzan AS, Baradaran-Eftekhari M, Malekafzali H: Explanatory model of help-seeking and coping mechanisms among depressed women in three ethnic groups of Fars, Kurdish, and Turkish in Iran. Arch Iran Med. 2008, 11 (4): 397-406.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Edlund MJ, Fortney JC, Reaves CM, Pyne JM, Mittal D: Beliefs about depression and depression treatment among depressed veterans. Med Care. 2008, 46 (6): 581-589. 10.1097/MLR.0b013e3181648e46.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Fortune G, Barrowclough C, Lobban F: Illness representations in depression. Br J Clin Psychol. 2004, 43: 347-364. 10.1348/0144665042388955.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Garfield SF, Smith FJ, Francis S: The paradoxical role of antidepressant medication – returning to normal functioning while losing the sense of being normal. J Ment Heal. 2003, 12 (5): 521-535. 10.1080/09638230310001603582.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  49. Gask L, Rogers A, Oliver D, May C, Roland M: Qualitative study of patients’ perceptions of the quality of care for depression in general practice. Br J Gen Pract. 2003, 53 (489): 278-283.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  50. Givens JL, Datto CJ, Ruckdeschel K, Knott K, Zubritsky C, Oslin DW, Nyshadham S, Vanguri P, Barg FK: Older patients’ aversion to antidepressants. A qualitative study. J Gen Intern Med. 2006, 21 (2): 146-151.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  51. Givens JL, Houston TK, Van Voorhees BW, Ford DE, Cooper LA: Ethnicity and preferences for depression treatment. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2007, 29 (3): 182-191. 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2006.11.002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Green G, Bradby H, Chan A, Lee M, Eldridge K: Is the English National Health Service meeting the needs of mentally distressed Chinese women?. J Health Serv Res Policy. 2002, 7 (4): 216-221. 10.1258/135581902320432741.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Grime J, Pollock K: Patients’ ambivalence about taking antidepressants: a qualitative study. Pharma J. 2003, 271 (7270): 516-519.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Heifner C: The male experience of depression. Perspect Psychiatric Care. 1997, 33 (2): 10-18.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Kangas I: Making sense of depression: perceptions of melancholia in lay narratives. Health. 2001, 5 (1): 76-92.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Karasz A, Sacajiu G, Garcia N: Conceptual models of psychological distress among low-income patients in an inner-city primary care clinic. J Gen Intern Med. 2003, 18 (6): 475-477. 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2003.20636.x.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  57. Karasz A, Watkins L: Conceptual models of treatment in depressed hispanic patients. Ann Fam Med. 2006, 4 (6): 527-533. 10.1370/afm.579.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  58. Karasz A: The development of valid subtypes for depression in primary care settings: a preliminary study using an explanatory model approach. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2008, 196 (4): 289-296. 10.1097/NMD.0b013e31816a496e.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  59. Karasz A, Garcia N, Ferri L: Conceptual models of depression in primary care patients a comparative study. J Cross-Cultural Psychology. 2009, 40 (6): 1041-1059. 10.1177/0022022109348782.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Karp DA: Living with depression: illness and identity turning points. Qual Health Res. 1994, 4 (1): 6-30. 10.1177/104973239400400102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Kelly MA, Sereika SM, Battista DR, Brown C: The relationship between beliefs about depression and coping strategies: Gender differences. Br J Clin Psychol. 2007, 46 (3): 315-332. 10.1348/014466506X173070.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Kirk LB: Attitudes toward depression and its treatment in disadvantaged, depressed women. Dissertation Abstracts International. 2001, 4409-

    Google Scholar 

  63. Kuyken W, Brewin CR, Power MJ, Furnham A: Causal beliefs about depression in depressed-patients, clinical psychologists and lay persons. Br J Med Psychol. 1992, 65: 257-268. 10.1111/j.2044-8341.1992.tb01706.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Lewis SE: A search for meaning: making sense of depression. J Ment Heal. 1995, 4 (4): 369-382. 10.1080/09638239550037424.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  65. Leykin Y, DeRubeis RJ, Shelton RC, Amsterdam JD: Changes in patients’ beliefs about the causes of their depression following successful treatment. Cognitive Therapy and Research. 2007, , , 437-449.

    Google Scholar 

  66. Lowe B, Schulz U, Grafe K, Wilke S: Medical patients’ attitudes toward emotional problems and their treatment. What do they really want?. J Gen Intern Med. 2006, 21 (1): 39-45. 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2005.0266.x.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  67. Manber R, Chambers AS, Hitt SK, McGahuey C, Delgado P, Allen JJB: Patients’ perception of their depressive illness. J Psychiatr Res. 2003, 37 (4): 335-343. 10.1016/S0022-3956(03)00019-0.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Martin D, Quirino J, Mari J: Depression among women living in the outskirts of Sao Paulo, Southeastern Brasil. Rev Saude Publica. 2007, 41 (4): 591-597.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Maxwell M: Women’s and doctors’ accounts of their experiences of depression in primary care: the influence of social and moral reasoning on patients’ and doctors’ decisions. Chronic Illness. 2005, 1 (1): 61-71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Nolan P, Badger F: Aspects of the relationship between doctors and depressed patients that enhance satisfaction with primary care. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs. 2005, 12 (2): 146-153. 10.1111/j.1365-2850.2004.00806.x.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Okello ES, Neema S: Explanatory models and help-seeking behavior: Pathways to psychiatric care among patients admitted for depression in Mulago hospital, Kampala, Uganda. Qual Health Res. 2007, 17 (1): 14-25. 10.1177/1049732306296433.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Pang KYC: Symptoms of depression in elderly Korean immigrants: Narration and the healing process. Cult Med Psychiatr. 1998, 22 (1): 93-122. 10.1023/A:1005389321714.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  73. Rogers A, May C, Oliver D: Experiencing depression, experiencing the depressed: the separate worlds of patients and doctors. J Ment Heal. 2001, 10 (3): 317-333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  74. Sarkisian CA, Lee-Henderson MH, Mangione CM: Do depressed older adults who attribute depression to “old age” believe it is important to seek care?. J Gen Intern Med. 2003, 18 (12): 1001-1005. 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2003.30215.x.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  75. Scattolon Y, Stoppard JM: “Getting on with life”: Women’s experiences and ways of coping with depression. Can Psychol-Psychol Can. 1999, 40 (2): 205-219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  76. Shin JK: Help-seeking behaviors by Korean immigrants for depression. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2002, 23 (5): 461-476. 10.1080/01612840290052640.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Srinivasan J, Cohen NL, Parikh SV: Patient attitudes regarding causes of depression: implications for psychoeducation. Can J Psychiatry. 2003, 48 (7): 493-495.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Stecker T, Alvidrez J: Patient decision-making regarding entry into psychotherapy to treat depression. Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2007, 28 (7): 811-820. 10.1080/01612840701415967.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Ugarriza DN: Elderly women’s explanation of depression. J Gerontol Nurs. 2002, 28 (5): 22-29. quiz 54–25

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Van Voorhees BW, Fogel J, Houston TK, Cooper LA, Wang NY, Ford DE: Beliefs and attitudes associated with the intention to not accept the diagnosis of depression among young adults. Ann Fam Med. 2005, 3 (1): 38-46. 10.1370/afm.273.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  81. Van Voorhees BW, Fogel J, Houston TK, Cooper LA, Wang NY, Ford DE: Attitudes and illness factors associated with low perceived need for depression treatment among young adults. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiol. 2006, 41 (9): 746-754. 10.1007/s00127-006-0091-x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  82. Wagner PJ, Jester D, LeClair B, Taylor AT, Woodward L, Lambert J: Taking the edge off - Why patients choose St. John’s Wort. J Fam Pract. 1999, 48 (8): 615-619.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  83. Waite R, Killian P: Perspectives about depression: explanatory models among African-American women. Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2009, 23 (4): 323-333. 10.1016/j.apnu.2008.05.009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Williams B, Healy D: Perceptions of illness causation among new referrals to a community mental health team: “explanatory model” or “exploratory map”?. Soc Sci Med. 2001, 53 (4): 465-476. 10.1016/S0277-9536(00)00349-X.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  85. Wittink MN, Dahlberg B, Biruk C, Barg FK: How older adults combine medical and experiential notions of depression. Qual Health Res. 2008, 18 (9): 1174-1183. 10.1177/1049732308321737.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  86. Wittkampf K, van Zwieten M, Smits F, Schene A, Huyser J, van Weert H: Patients’ view on screening for depression in general practice. Fam Pract. 2008, 25 (6): 438-444. 10.1093/fampra/cmn057.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  87. Yeung A, Chang D, Gresham RL, Nierenberg AA, Fava M: Illness beliefs of depressed Chinese American Patients in primary care. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2004, 192 (4): 324-327. 10.1097/01.nmd.0000120892.96624.00.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  88. Martin D, de Jesus Mari J, Quirino J: Views on depression among patients diagnosed as depressed in a poor town on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Transcult Psychiatry. 2007, 44 (4): 637-658. 10.1177/1363461507083902.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  89. Antonovsky A: Health, Stress, and Coping. 1979, Jossey-Bass,

    Google Scholar 

  90. Lindstrom B, Eriksson M: Contextualizing salutogenesis and Antonovsky in public health development. Heal Promot Int. 2006, 21 (3): 238-244. 10.1093/heapro/dal016.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  91. Integrative approaches to qualitative and quantitative evidence. [http://www.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=508055]

  92. National Institute of Clinical Excellence: Depression in adults with a chronic physical health problem: treatment and management. NICE. Volume CG 91. 2009, NICE,

    Google Scholar 

Pre-publication history

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

    Sarah L Alderson, Robbie Foy, Liz Glidewell, Kate McLintock & Allan House

Authors
  1. Sarah L Alderson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robbie Foy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Liz Glidewell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Kate McLintock
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Allan House
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sarah L Alderson.

Additional information

Competing interests

All authors have completed the Unified Competing Interest form at http://www.icmje.org/coi_disclosure.pdf (available on request from the corresponding author) and declare: no support from any organisation for the submitted work; no financial relationships with any organisations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous three years, no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Authors’ contributions

AH was responsible for the study conception and design, contributed to the interpretation of the data. RF, LG AH and KM commented on drafts of the manuscript. SA wrote the protocol and was responsible for data extraction, analysis and interpretation, drafting the manuscript and incorporating comments. RF and LG contributed to the interpretation of the data. KM acted as a second reviewer. SA will act as guarantor. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Authors’ original submitted files for images

Below are the links to the authors’ original submitted files for images.

Authors’ original file for figure 1

Authors’ original file for figure 2

Rights and permissions

This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Alderson, S.L., Foy, R., Glidewell, L. et al. How patients understand depression associated with chronic physical disease – a systematic review. BMC Fam Pract 13, 41 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2296-13-41

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2296-13-41

Keywords

BMC Primary Care

ISSN: 2731-4553

Contact us