Diabetologists' assessments of their outpatients' emotional state and health beliefs: accuracy and possible sources of bias

The accuracy of physicians' perceptions of their patients' emotional state and health attitudes was examined in a diabetes outpatient clinic by comparing patients' ratings of anxiety, depression and health locus of control with physicians' ratings. In 234 patients, doctors' and patients' ratings correlated significantly for depression and anxiety. The physicians rated patients with a strong belief in control of health by others as most dependent on doctors. Men but not women with external locus of control were also rated as very dependent on doctors. Anxious or depressed patients were rated by their doctors as less able to cope with diabetes. The results indicate that non-psychiatric physicians are able to assess their patients' emotions and health attitudes with greater accuracy than is usually assumed.