The Patient with Depression: Assessment and Management

Abstract

Depression in adults is a condition that is treatable by family physicians. The current Clinical Practice Guidelines from the Ministry of Health recommends a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) as the first-line of pharmacotherapy. Care should be taken to assess the patient's psychological and social factors contributing to the illness. These factors should be managed by referring the patient to an appropriate allied health professional, such as a psychologist or communitybased social worker. Specialist referral should be made under certain circumstances (such as treatment-resistance), or if issues pertaining to risk arise. This review aims to give an update on the recently published DSM-5 criteria for diagnosis, and the treatment of the adult patient with depression.