High urgency
-Moderately severe
Depression is sometimes accompanied by an irrational tendency to self-harm or even to commit suicide. In severe cases, it can cause psychosis: unpleasant illusions and hallucinations. Diagnosis is made by patient consultation, physical examination, examination of the patient’s mental state and interviews with family and friends. Major depression is usually resolved over time; on average around 6 months. It is necessary to go to an emergency department (psychiatry or general medicine) if there are ideas of self-harm or previous episodes of self-harm, aggressiveness, psychosis with hallucinations, self-inflicted injuries and/or consumption of toxic substances.
- John Williams, MD. Jason Nieuwsma, PhD. Screening for depression in adults. UpToDate. Jul 19, 2016.
- Ansseau M, Dierick M, Buntinkx F, et al. High prevalence of mental disorders in primary care. J Affect Disord 2004; 78:49.
- Bell RA, Franks P, Duberstein PR, et al. Suffering in silence: reasons for not disclosing depression in primary care. Ann Fam Med 2011; 9:439.
- Siu AL, US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), Bibbins-Domingo K, et al. Screening for Depression in Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA 2016; 315:380.
- Peter P Roy-Byrne, MD. Unipolar depression in adults: Treatment with antidepressant combinations. UpToDate. May 27, 2015.
Dr. Sara Vitoria
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