Continuous education of physicians is critical for the quality of medical care.

To investigate the attitudes of general practitioners towards depression and to evaluate the short- and long-term impact of a specific designed postgraduate university program in depression.

In this prospective, interventional study participated 1322-certificated Family Practice specialist. They filled out the Depression Attitude Questionnaire (DAQ) Spanish validated version before starting the educational intervention; an official approved 12 ECTS postgraduate university program. The participant refilled the questionnaires at the end of the course and 6 months later.

A total of 885 females and 420 males (mean 48 years) and with a mean clinical experience of 25 years participated in this study. Short-term after training, PGs positively significant (P < 0.05) changed their attitudes in the management of depression in 18 out 20 items of the DAQ. There were not significant changes in only item 1 related to the number of patients presenting depressive symptoms seen in the last 5 years and the knowledge of the underlying biochemical abnormality. In the long-term, the positive effects observed in the short-term did not significantly change. However, in item 1 a significantly increase was observed. The effectiveness of the intervention was related nor to the to the age and sex of the physician nor to the years of medical practice.

A specific designed educational program can improve the attitudes in depression of GPs. Years of clinical practice are not a limitation for improving the medical attitudes of General practitioners in mental health.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.