MAJOR DEPRESSION IN MEDICALLY ILL PATIENTS

Major depression is one of the most common psychiatric problems compli cating the treatment and prognosis of patients with active medical ill ness. Recognizing and treating major depressive conditions in this pop ulation can often be challenging, even for the most seasoned clinician s, This article reviews the medical and neurologic conditions that hav e been associated with the high prevalence rates of major depression, Highlights of the evaluation process that help confirm this suspected diagnosis are addressed, and management issues are discussed. Brief re views of supportive psychotherapeutic tools that the clinician may fin d helpful are included, as well as current advances in pharmacologic i nterventions.