Citation

Greenstone CL. Am. J. Lifestyle Med. 2007; 1(3): 167-170.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1559827607300000

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Anxiety and depression are the 2 leading mental health conditions seen in primary care. They are often underdiagnosed and undertreated in this setting. Primary care physicians must adopt tools and methods of identifying these patients. Office support staff and electronic medical records with reminder systems are helpful in implementing screening and early counseling. Lifestyle medicine approaches to these common conditions are also overlooked as effective primary and adjunctive therapies. Promoting a basic "health formula" (regular physical activity, proper diet, and emotion balance [stress management]) for all of our patients has important implications for not only heart disease and diabetes prevention and treatment, but it also supports treatment for common mental health problems.