Screening for depression within a rural primary care practice by a self-rating depression scale

Major depressive disorder is a common psychiatric illness which deserves im mediate medical diagnosis and treatment. Untreated, the patient may be at g reat risk of suicide. The detection of depression by primary care physician s, particularly in rural areas, is a critical part of treatment; however de pression is often not the presenting complaint. The use of the Zung Self-ra ting Depression Scale (SDS) can help in the identification of otherwise una pparent clinical depression. This method of detection is a simple, inexpens ive and efficient tool which the primary care physician can use in increasi ng awareness and diagnosis of depressive disorders. Primary Care Psychiatry 2000: 6:73-76. Copyright (C) 2000 by LibraPharm Limited.