Management of depression in primary care patients

The articles in this report provide focused discussions of challenges faced by primary care physicians in diagnosing and treating depression-a prevalent, costly, and frequently hidden disorder. Although depression often is poorly recognized in primary care patients, screening recently has been shown to improve outcomes, and time-efficient strategies have been developed for use in the primary care setting. Once the specific type of depression has been diagnosed and confirmed, the next step is to formulate the best individualized treatment plan from the rapidly expanding armamentarium of antidepressants and alternative therapies. In this article, current information on treatment options is synthesized into a general approach, from which an effective treatment plan can be tailored to the individual patient. New antidepressants and novel information about the molecular mechanisms underlying depression can be incorporated into this approach. This article is also a summary of the major points, recurring key considerations, and recommendations discussed in the preceding articles.