Managing Depression in Medical Outpatients

Depression is second only to hypertension as the most common chronic condition encountered in general medical practice.1 At least 1 in 10 outpatients has major depression, but most cases are unrecognized or inappropriately treated,24 leading to loss of productivity, functional decline, and increased mortality.59 Appropriate therapy improves the daily functioning and overall health of patients with depression.10,11 DiagnosisMajor depression is defined by depressed mood or loss of interest in nearly all activities (or both) for at least two weeks, accompanied by a minimum of three or four of the following symptoms (for a total of at . . .