Kroll D.Caring for Patients with Depression in Primary Care 2022

Textbook in PDF format

Depression is the leading cause of disability in the United States, and the traditional framework for managing depression within a psychiatry practice—i.e., a single psychiatrist treating a single patient for up to an hour per week—comes up painfully short at the level of serving the population even if it can be highly effective for individuals. At the same time, the non-systematic way in which most patients identify the need to see a specialty provider in behavioral health leaves many stranded, regardless of how complex their needs are. Primary care is now often considered the “de facto mental health system” in the United States, and primary care providers have been charged with the impossible task of making up for the dearth of psychiatric specialty providers and somehow correcting the many inequities in access to care that remain. Managing Depression in Primary Care contains fourteen chapters that anticipate the questions, problems, and practical challenges that are most likely to come up when managing depression in primary care. It covers the basic skills that are needed for treating depression when it occurs in a vacuum, but it also provides practical guidance on treating depression in the real world—where it will inevitably be complicated by other factors. It also covers important associated topics including suicide, substance use, and disability.
Caring for Patients with Depression in Primary Care
Diagnosing Depression
Prescribing Antidepressant Medication
Managing Risks and Side Effects of Antidepressant Medications
Referring to Therapy
Treatment Resistance and Advanced Therapies
Managing Suicide Risk
Managing Conflict
Disability and the Legal System