Seize the Day to Implement Depression Guidelines.

Abstract

Editorials1 March 2016Seize the Day to Implement Depression GuidelinesJohn W. Williams Jr., MD, MHSc and Gary Maslow, MD, MPHJohn W. Williams Jr., MD, MHScFrom Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, and Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.Search for more papers by this author and Gary Maslow, MD, MPHFrom Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, and Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M16-0104 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Improving the care for persons with depression is a public health priority. Depression is common, causes enormous suffering, and increases the risk for suicide. The negative effects of depression extend beyond the individual patient to family members and employers. Depressive disorders often begin during adolescence and may be chronic or recurring. In adolescents, suicide is the second leading cause of death (1). Depression is treatable, with a range of options that include antidepressant medications, evidence-based psychotherapies, and complementary therapies. Most persons with depression are initially diagnosed and treated in general medical settings. Improving the recognition and treatment of depression within ...