Abstract:

Background: Depression in older adults is common in general practice, but the optimal approach for identification and treatment is not entirely clear.

Aim: To explore physicians’ experiences with a structured collaborative model involving joint consultations between patients, general practitioners (GPs), and geriatric psychiatrists for managing depression in adults aged 65 years and older.

Methods: Three focus group discussions were conducted with 13 physicians (10 GPs and 3 psychiatrists) who had participated in a structured collaboration model as part of a recent cluster randomized intervention study. Data were analyzed using Systematic Text Condensation.

Results: Five themes emerged: (1) diagnostic challenges; (2) perceived advantages; (3) feasibility; (4) concerns about overdiagnosis and overtreatment; and (5) suggested adjustments to the model. Somatic presentations often overshadowed depressive symptoms, particularly under GPs time constraints. Joint consultations strengthened the GP-patient relationship and enabled mutual learning. The presence of the GP was viewed as essential for patient engagement. The model addressed a treatment gap for GPs and was considered by psychiatrists to be highly cost-effective. All participants supported broader implementation in clinical practice.

Conclusion: The GPs’ enthusiasm for this collaborative approach indicates an unmet need in the treatment of older patients with depression. By strengthening both the doctor-patient relationship and interdisciplinary collaboration between GPs and psychiatrists in a cost-effective manner, the use of such joint consultations should be further investigated.

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