Depression is common in older patients with chronic diseases. Untreated depression leads to poor compliance with medical treatment and increases health care utilization.

We examined the management of depression in patients with COPD, severe osteoarthritis and unspecified symptoms by the general practitioners (GPs).

We assessed a national sample of general practitioners (n = 3956) in England, the management of depression for chronic diseases using a postal survey with three case vignettes.

864 (22%) completed responses were received (Men = 433, Female = 431). The mean (SD) age was 45.8 (8.47). The percentage of GPs who reported that they would explore the diagnosis of depression for each vignette were 95.4% for COPD, 88.3% for severe osteoarthritis and 86.3% for unspecified symptoms. There is significant difference in the percentage of GPs diagnosing depression more COPD patients compared with severe osteoarthritis and unspecified symptoms

(X2 = 76.6; p < 0.001). GPs that offer a diagnosis of depression for patients with COPD are more likely to prefer a combination of antidepressant drugs and psychological therapy as their first line of treatment F (3.00, 2534) = 2.39, p = 0.06. GPs endorse the importance of routinely screening for depression in patients who have COPD F (3.89, 3349) = 5.03, p < 0.0006 and depression impairs patient's self-management of COPD F (3.95, 3404.36) = 5.28, p < 0.0003.

GPs in England report the importance of screening for depression in patients with chronic diseases. Depression interferes on the self-management of COPD.