20 Years of diamond at Wonca 2023

The diamond study followed 789 people with depressive symptoms through their primary care journey for 10 years (2005 through to 2016) systematically documenting participant-reported experiences of care in the Australian general practice setting. It has created a body of knowledge of how depression was identified, managed and monitored over time.

The Wonca 20 years of diamond program presented by Professor Jane Gunn and a number of University of Melbourne, Department of General Practice and Primary Care researchers included:

  • Jane Gunn & Patty Chondros - 20 years of Diagnosis, Management and Outcomes of Depression in Primary Care (diamond) study.
  • Jane Gunn - An assessment of the generalist’s approach to depression care: learnings from a decade of the diamond study
  • Caroline Johnson – Bridging the gap between digital and face-to-face mental health services: integrating the Link-Me tool into a National Mental Health Platform
  • Cath Kaylor-Hughes – Supporting the tapering journey: Development of an online-tool to assist the safe and effective deprescribing of antidepressants in primary care.
  • Amy Coe - General practice patients’ self-reported reasons for ceasing antidepressant treatment for depression. Research presentation
  • Amy Coe – A Mixed Methods Case Study Realist Evaluation of the WiserAD Structured Online Support Tool for Antidepressant Deprescribing in Primary Care.
  • Alison Flehr - diamond: Mortality characteristics of a depressed primary care cohort from 2006 to 2019.

Jane Gunn was also awarded the RACGP Foundation Peter Mudge Medal for her diamond study. The Peter Mudge Medal is an annual award presented to the GP who has advanced the discipline of general practice and the goals of the RACGP, and whose original research has the most potential to significantly influence daily general practice. Congratulations Jane!

Jane would like to thank the 30 Victorian diamond GPs, their patients, their practice staff, the diamond participants, and all the researchers and students involved in diamond study over the years.