The First Consultation for Low Mood in General Practice (Revised)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The First Consultation for Low Mood in General Practice: What do patient's Find Helpful (Revised)
IRAS ID
229430
Contact name
Ian James Morgan
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Northumberland Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NRES REC ref for previous pilot study, 15/YH/0327; IRAS project ID for previous pilot study, 169697
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, days
Research summary
Current guidelines on depression do not consider the GP consultation as a therapeutic interaction. A small number of studies have provided evidence to the contrary, but have focussed primarily on generic consulting skills such as listening and empathy. However, the large degree of variation within a single practitioner’s caseload suggests other factors, specific to low mood, may be involved in determining the success, or otherwise, of the consultation. We intend to ask the patients themselves what these factors may be.
We have already completed an unfunded pilot, in which patients presenting with low mood to their GP for the first time completed a questionnaire. This asked whether they found the consultation to be therapeutic, and what particular aspects did they found helpful or otherwise. Results showed that the large majority of patients (88%) reported feeling “better” or “much better” after such a consultation. Patients particularly valued normalisation of their condition and the offer of treatment.
The pilot study identified a significant potential bias in initial recruitment by the consulting GPs, whereby the GPs were much more likely recruit after a ‘successful’ consultation. It was also felt that more data was required, including an objective measure of symptom severity.
We therefore revised the study protocol to recruit participants by Read code searching of GP records, and obtain additional data from both questionnaires (including a PHQ-9) and focus groups (new).
We wish to investigate what patients find helpful in their first consultation for low mood with the GP. The results of our study will provide crucial information as to how such consultations can be tailored to improve patient satisfaction.
The Chief Investigator (IJM) has been awarded a Helen Lester Mental Health Research Fellowship (£24, 100) from the RCGP for this study.
REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0475
Date of REC Opinion
10 Aug 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion