Disability from depression: the public health challenge to primary care.
Epidemiologists have identified that depression will soon be the leading cause of disability throughout the world. To inform public health campaigns to reduce this problem, this paper summarizes current scientific knowledge about optimizing the potential of primary care settings to reduce disability by providing effective treatment for depression. To meet this challenge, primary care practices need to be re-engineered: 1) to conduct systematic screening programs to identify depressed patients, 2) to provide depressed patients initial evidence-based treatment, and 3) to monitor treatment adherence and symptom response in treated patients over 2 years. While additional research is needed in developing countries, preliminary evidence indicates that primary care practices re-engineered to improve depression management can make a substantial contribution to reducing depression-associated disability.
Rost
Kathryn
K
Department of Medical Humanities and Social Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, 1115 W. Call Street, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA. Kathryn.Rost@med.fsu.edu
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000639:trends; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000191:economics; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief / Q000191:economics; D011634:Public Health / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends*; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years
D000928:Antidepressive Agents