Table 1 Topic guide

To discover and understand actual prescription of antidepressants in general practice

To explore the reasons for prescribing antidepressants in 2 main groups: in different settings (primary care situations) and in different diagnoses (primary care conditions)

-Ice breaking question: "Primary care context and GPs' expertise allow them to sometimes justifiably prescribe drugs in situations other than those assessed using official criteria. Could you tell us more about how you use ADs in primary care?

-Do not let the GPs repeat the guidelines or take the "official" stance

-Don't be afraid to let them discuss strange or extreme situations

-In your real practice, regarding prescription of ADs, how helpful are the major depression criteria? (e.g. DSM IV)? How do you use official scales to assess patients? How do you manage to decide in real life situations?

-Could you explain in what way the context (e.g. social, family, work) of the patient influences your prescription?

-What is your opinion about the efficacy of ADs? Do you think GPs "anaesthetize" their patients with ADs?

-Do you feel justified in prescribing ADs in situations that do not fit in with the official rules (e.g. guidelines)? Could you explain why? How do you decide?

-Do you ever prescribe antidepressants when the patient is not depressed or anxious? Could you explain your reasons for this?

-For what kind of conditions would you prescribe this way?

-You often talk about "feeling". Could you tell us more what you mean by this?

-Some of you talked about "real depression". Could you clarify this concept?

-Locum physicians: What's your opinion on the other GPs' prescription of ADs?