Table 3 Attitude to geriatric depression estimated by R-DAQ items (n = 315)

Professional confidence in depression care

• I feel confident in assessing depression in patients

• I feel comfortable in dealing with depressed patients’ needs

• I feel confident in assessing suicide risk in patients presenting with depression

• It is rewarding to spend time looking after depressed patients

• I am more comfortable working with physical illness than with mental illnesses like depression (RS)

• My profession is well placed to assist patients with depression

• My profession is well trained to assist patients with depression

Therapeutic optimism/pessimism about depression

• Psychological therapy tends to be unsuccessful with people who are depressed (RS) *

• Depression reflects a response which is not amenable to change (RS)

• Becoming depressed is a way that people with poor stamina deal with life difficulties (RS)

• There is little to be offered to depressed patients who do not respond to initial treatments (RS)

• One of the main causes of depression is a lack of self-discipline and will-power (RS)

• Antidepressant therapy tends to be unsuccessful with people who are depressed (RS)

• Becoming depressed is a natural part of adolescence (RS)

• Depression treatments medicalise unhappiness (RS)

• Once a person has made up their mind about taking their

own life no one can stop them (RS)

0.086

• Becoming depressed is a natural part of being old (RS)

Generalist perspective about depression occurrence, recognition and management

• All health professionals should have skills in recognizing and managing depression

• Recognizing and managing depression is often an important part of managing other health problems

• Anyone can suffer from depression

• People with depression have care needs similar to other medical conditions like diabetes, COPD or arthritis.

0.95

• Depression is a disease like any other (e.g. asthma, diabetes)