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Cited by 95Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesMental Health Treatment and AccessInnovations in Medical Education

Training general practitioners to recognise and respond to psychological distress and suicidal ideation in young people

Pfaff, Jon J, Acres, John G, McKelvey, Robert S·2001·Medical Journal of Australia
DOI 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2001.tb143241.x
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of a training program for general practitioners in recognising and responding to psychological distress and suicidal ideation in young people. DESIGN AND SETTING: The study, conducted in general practice surgeries in Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia in 1996 and 1997, used a pre-/posttest design to audit consecutive young patients presenting in the six weeks before and the six weeks after the GPs' participation in the training program. PARTICIPANTS: Consisted of 23 GPs who attended a youth suicide prevention workshop and 423 patients aged 15-24 years who presented to the GPs' surgeries (203 pre-workshop and 220 post-workshop). INTERVENTION: GPs attended a one-day training workshop designed to enhance their ability to recognise, assess and manage young patients at risk of suicide. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Scores on three patient self-report inventories (General Health Questionnaire-12 [GHQ-12], Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale [CES-D] and Depressive Symptom Inventory--Suicidality Subscale [DSI-SS]); a GP-completed form for each patient summarising presenting complaint(s), psychological assessment and proposed management plan. RESULTS: After training, GPs demonstrated increased recognition rates of psychologically distressed patients scoring above the cut-offs of the GHQ-12 (48% increase; odds ratio [OR], 1.748; 95% CI, 0.904-03.381) and CES-D (39.5% increase; OR, 2.067; 95% CI, 1.031-4.143); enquiry about suicidal ideation increased by 32.5% (OR, 1.483; 95% CI, 0.929-2.366); and identification of suicidal patients (determined by DSI-SS score) increased by 130% (OR, 3.949; 95% CI, 1.577-9.888). Training did not lead to any significant change in GPs' patient management strategies. CONCLUSIONS: A one-day training course can significantly enhance GP detection rates of psychological distress and suicidal ideation in young patients, but higher recognition rates do not necessarily lead to changes in patient management.

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Authors
Pfaff, J. J., Acres, J. G., & McKelvey, R. S.
Affiliations
  • National General Practice Youth Suicide Prevention ProjectPerthWA
  • Health Services GroupPerthWA
  • Oregon Health & Science University (US)
Corresponding author
Pfaff, Jon J
ORCID
McKelvey, Robert S
Venue
Medical Journal of Australia
Publisher
AMPCo
Published
2001-03
Volume
174
Issue
5
Pages
222-226
ISSN
  • 0025-729X (ISSN-L)
  • 1326-5377
DOI
10.5694/j.1326-5377.2001.tb143241.x
OpenAlex
W109420473
Cited by
95
References
17
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 6
FWCI
2.22
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • The Medical Journal of Australia (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UWA Profiles and Research Repository (UWA) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
Keywords
general practice training, psychological distress, suicidal ideation, youth suicide prevention, youth, suicide risk assessment, depression detection, patient management strategies
MeSH terms
Suicide Prevention, Adolescent, Adult, Curriculum, Education, Education, Medical, Continuing, Family Practice, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Patient Care Team, Psychophysiologic Disorders, Somatoform Disorders, Suicide, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

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