Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of depressive disorders

Author: Leonardo Bukmir, Martina Fišić, Branislava Popović, Aleksandar Ljubotina, Tina Zavidić
Abstract:

Guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of depressive disorders successfully implement new scientific knowledge and promote the principles of evidence-based medicine. They are equally useful in both the education and the routine work of family physicians. They facilitate screening, diagnosing, assessing suicidal risk, and the need for hospital care. Using a biopsychosocial approach, a family doctor plans and conducts individual treatments and prevents possible recurrence of the disease. Psychopharmacological guidelines are based on scientific facts about the therapeutic efficacy of drugs with the recommendation of the first, second and third choices. The choice and duration of pharmacotherapy depends on the stage of the disease, the symptoms and the comorbid conditions. The use of antidepressants should be individualized. The choice and duration of pharmacotherapy depends on the stage of the disease, the symptoms, and the comorbid conditions. Special attention and adaptation of pharmacotherapy is needed in children and adolescents, as well as older persons. In the use of medicines, it is important to follow recommendations from professional societies and to know the potential side effects and interactions with other medicines. Improving care for this group of patients is possible with the development of partnership between doctors and patients. Patients should take a more active role in their treatment as this can significantly impact the quality of treatment. The family doctor has to monitor and evaluate the course of treatment as this can significantly improve the quality of life.

Key words:
antidepressants; depression; guidelines