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Previous Volume 343:1942-1950 December 28, 2000 Number 26 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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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,^2,3,4 leading to loss of productivity, functional decline, and increased mortality.^5,6,7,8,9 Appropriate therapy improves the daily functioning and overall health of patients with depression.^10,11

Diagnosis

Major 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 least five symptoms altogether): . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Assessment of the Risk of Suicide

Need for Treatment

Education of Patients

Options for Treatment

Supportive Care

Pharmacotherapy

            Selection of Medication

            Dosage

            Side Effects

            Cautions and Interactions

Herbal Remedies

Structured Psychotherapy

Referral to a Psychiatrist

Follow-Up

Pharmacotherapy

Structured Psychotherapy

Prognosis

Conclusions

Source Information

From the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the Departments of Medicine and of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco (M.A.W.); and the Center for Health Studies, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle (G.E.S.).

Address reprint requests to Dr. Whooley at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (111A1), 4150 Clement St., San Francisco, CA 94121, or at whooley@itsa.ucsf.edu.

References

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