Depression is a common psychiatric disorder in children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. Primary care providers, not mental health professionals, treat the majority of patients with symptoms of depression. Persons who are depressed have feelings of sadness, loneliness, irritability, worthlessness, hopelessness, agitation, and guilt that may be accompanied by an array of physical symptoms as well as substance abuse. Identifying patients with depression and substance abuse can be difficult in busy primary care settings where time is limited, but certain depression/substance abuse screening tools may help diagnose the disorder.
Discuss a screening tool that can be used in the primary care setting that can help with the identification of patients with depression and or substance abuse. What is your responsibility as a primary care provider to this patient once a disorder has been identified?
About one page in length. At least 3 references, not older than 5 years old.
Requirements: one page
Answer preview
As a primary care provider, I am supposed to diagnose a patient with depression and initiate treatment (Waitzfelder, Stewart, Coleman, Rossom, Ahmedani, Beck, & Simon, 2018). I should be able to decide what level of interventions they need. After that, I should develop therapeutic activities for patients and provide psych education for patients and significant others. Most depressed people need human contact, dialogue, guidance, and real-time interaction when treated for depression. Many depressed people are due to a lack of attention from family or loved ones, and all they need is someone to listen to them. Also, someone to set up a follow-up system
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