A consumer perspective of diagnosis and treatment of chronic major depression

The National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association (National DMDA) is a nonprofit, mission-driven, consumer advocacy organization that was found ed to educate patients, their families, and the public about the nature and management of depressive and manic depressive illness. Although treatments for mend disorders have been available for decades, individuals with chron ic major depression are often misdiagnosed or inappropriately treated. Seri ous gaps in the translation of research findings into clinical management e xist and are attributable to patient, provider, and health care system fact ors. This article discusses the barriers to diagnosis and the ways to impro ve recognition and treatment of chronic major depression from the consumer perspective.