Objective To determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression in general practice patients and assess management of these conditions by general practitioners (GPs). Methods A random sample of 212 GPs were approached to be interviewed and to conduct a patient survey and audit on 50 consecutive patient consultations during 1993. Participants 117 GPs (55% response rate) and 4867 patients (85%) who completed questionnaires suitable for analysis. Setting General practices in two areas (divisions of general practice) in Sydney, New South Wales. Results Thirty‐six per cent of patients had abnormal scores on a General Health Questionnaire (GHQ‐12); they were more likely to be women or to be unemployed. Twenty per cent of these patients had been treated for depression or anxiety in the previous 12 months; 52% were prescribed drug therapy, and were more likely to be older, male or unemployed. Seventy per cent of patients reported having been offered therapy by their GP that did not involve drugs. Twenty‐four per cent had been referred to another health professional; they were more likely to be younger, or men, or patients attending their usual doctor. Conclusions A brief screening instrument may improve GPs’ detection rate of patients with anxiety or depression. The high prevalence of these conditions in unemployed people deserves particular attention by GPs. Both drug and non‐drug therapies are being more appropriately applied in general practice than previously.

Objective To discover whether reported sleep–wake disturbances in the elderly (more frequent nocturnal awakenings, earlier waking and more day time naps) are associated with neuropsychological dysfunction. Design and setting A sample of 124 residents of a retirement village complex were interviewed about their sleep patterns and given neuropsychological assessments. Reported sleep‐wake difficulties were combined to form two variables, “night sleep” and “day sleep”. Additional sleep variables analysed were reported sleep duration and time of wakening. Principal components analysis of the neuropsychological test scores yielded four factors: “general ability”, “memory”, “motor”, and “cerebral efficiency”. Main outcome measures A correlation analysis was performed for sleep variables, neuropsychological factors and age, mood scale and scores on indices of participation in physical and passive activities. Results There was no correlation between “night sleep” and the factor scores derived from the neuropsychological tests. “Day sleep” was correlated with “cerebral efficiency” only. Age was correlated with the “memory” and “motor” factors, the latter also being associated with participation in physical activities. Conclusion Night sleep problems are not associated with neuropsychological deficits in a non‐clinic population.

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