Psychiatric Bulletin (2009) 33: 169-171. doi: 10.1192/pb.bp.108.020982
© 2009 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Using postal questionnaires to identify carer depression prior to initial patient contact

Candida R. Graham, Academic Physician

*Northern Medical Program, 3333 University Way, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada V2N 4Z9, email: cgraham{at}unbc.ca

Sube Banerjee, Professor of Mental Health and Ageing

The David Goldberg Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK

Randeep S. Gill, Research Coordinator

The Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King’s College London, London, UK

Declaration of interest

None.

AIMS AND METHOD

To assess whether postal questionnaires, used as a local initiative, were useful in identifying carer depression allowing early support for community-dwelling carers of older adults with mental health needs. The Geriatric Depression Scale and a questionnaire collecting information on the carer’s circumstances were sent to carers of consecutive patients routinely referred to a community mental health team for older adults in south London. Rates of carer depression between postal questionnaire responders and non-responders were compared.

RESULTS

The response rate to the postal questionnaires (33%) was similar to that observed in other postal studies; 42% of responders had depression compared with only 4.6% of non-responders.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Pre-contact postal questionnaires may present a simple method of enhancing early detection of carer depression for minimal economic outlay.




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