Citation

Lane JE, Shellenberger S, Gresen KW, Moore NC. Primary Care Psychiatry 2000; 6(2): 73-76.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2000)

DOI

10.1185/135525700543262

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Major depressive disorder is a common psychiatric illness which deserves immediate medical diagnosis and treatment. Untreated, the patient may be at great risk of suicide. The detection of depression by primary care physicians, particularly in rural areas, is a critical part of treatment; however, depression is often not the presenting complaint. The use of the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) can help in the identification of otherwise unapparent clinical depression. This method of detection is a simple, inexpensive and efficient tool which the primary care physician can use in increasing awareness and diagnosis of depressive disorders. Copyright (C) 2000 by LibraPharm Limited.

Language: en

Keywords

article; clinical trial; depression; health care cost; high risk population; human; major clinical study; primary medical care; priority journal; rural area; screening; self evaluation; suicide