Knowledge of late life depression and aging among primary care physicians

This study assessed 52 physicians from Memphis, Tennessee, and their knowledge of late life depression and its relationship to their knowledge of aging in general. The ages and gender of the physicians, their years of practice, the amount and quality of their contact with elderly patients and their attitudes toward the elderly were also assessed. The physicians scored 80% correct on the Late Life Depression Quiz and 65% correct on the Facts on Aging Quiz. Regression results indicated the variables significantly associated with the number of misconceptions regarding late life depression were amount of negative bias toward the elderly, followed by limited contact with older adults. Knowledge of late life depression was not related to the amount of physician contact with older adults and elderly patients, but rather the quality of that contact. Implications for effective identification and care of late life depression are discussed.