Treating depression

Professor Bruce Arroll discusses depression in primary care and the evidence base for that very first consultation. Bruce is a GP in south Auckland, director of the Goodfellow Unit and a professor in general practice at the University of Auckland.

Topics

Patients presenting with somatic symptoms.
Evidence based tools screening questions, including PHQ-9 questionnaire.
Depression vs. anxiety vs. something completely different.
Reluctance in diagnosing.
Dealing with distressed patients.
60% of people will resolve over one year.
Talk instead of prescribe – get them active.
Is there an evidence base for when to bring the patient back.
Should we be prescribing antidepressants at initial consultation?

Take home messages

Mental health problems are common in primary care, there is an evidence base for primary care and we need to be constantly alert for them.

Resources

Patient Resources

Mental Health Foundation has a comprehensive list of resources and recommended websites.

Presenter

Professor Bruce Arroll

General Practitioner

To contact Bruce Click here.

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