Diagnosing and Treating Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Cardiovascular Disorders and Diabetes Mellitus in Primary Healthcare: Is Training of Physicians Enough for Improvement?

Introduction: Common mental disorders - anxiety and depression - are prevalent among patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM) and can negatively influence treatment outcomes and healthcare expenses. Despite the importance of management of depression and anxiety in primary care facilities, the diagnostics and treatment of these disorders remain insufficient in the Russian Federation.

Aim: To explore whether the rates of referrals to psychiatrists and indicated pharmacological treatment received due to depression or anxiety among patients with CVD and DM will significantly change in primary healthcare facilities after the training of primary care physicians (PCPhs) to deal with comorbid depression and anxiety (including the algorithm for referral to a psychiatrist).