OBSTETRICIAN-GYNECOLOGISTS’ KNOWLEDGE, PRACTICES, AND DECISION-MAKING REGARDING DEPRESSION DURING PERIMENOPAUSE

Depression in women is more common during perimenopause (the time period around and during menopause) than pre- and postmenopause. Obstetrician/gynecologists (ob-gyns) play a vital role in the detection and management of depression symptoms in women because for many women ob-gyns are the first and most frequent point of medical contact. As such, this study assessed ob-gyns' knowledge and practice patterns regarding depression in perimenopause as well as specific decision making biases and heuristics (decision making shortcuts) that may impact physicians’ screening and treatment practices. Fellows of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) were selected randomly from a nationally representative sample from the ACOG database and completed an electronic or paper version of the survey. Higher quality education about depression, respondent sex, and personal experience with depression were associated with higher rates of screening for depression during perimenopause, but not greater diagnostic accuracy. Fewer than half of respondents were able to correctly diagnose vignettes depicting a major depressive episode with a somatic presentation, and their confidence ratings were not good indicators of the accuracy of their diagnoses. Findings suggest that respondents may engage in ambiguity avoidance and the availability heuristic when answering questions about depression during perimenopause.