Depression and Bipolar Disorder

This collection features AFP content deemed current by the AFP online medical editor on depression and bipolar disorder and related issues, including antidepressants, major depressive disorder, mental health, postpartum depression, and psychiatric medications. New research may affect the interpretation and application of this material. Clinical judgment is advised. Note that AFP content published within the past 12 months is accessible to AAFP members and paid subscribers only.

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Last Update: 12/13/2012

Screening and Diagnosis Treatment Complications and Special Situations Editorials and Letters

Improving Practice Patient Education, Self-Care Other AFP Content

Screening and Diagnosis

• Evaluation and Treatment of the Suicidal Patient (03/15/2012)
• Screening for Depression (01/15/2012)
• Screening for Depression in Adults [Putting Prevention into Practice] (10/15/2010)
• Screening for Depression in Adults: Recommendation Statement [U.S. Preventive Services Task Force] (10/15/2010)
• Screening and Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder in Children and Adolescents [Putting Prevention into Practice] (07/15/2010)
• Screening and Treatment for Major Depressive Disorder in Children and Adolescents: Recommendation Statement [U.S. Preventive Services Task Force] (07/15/2010)
• Mental Status Examination in Primary Care: A Review (10/15/2009)
• Screening Instruments for Depression [Point-of-Care Guides] (07/15/2008)
• Screening for Depression [Cochrane for Clinicians] (05/01/2006)
• Efficient Identification of Adults with Depression and Dementia (09/15/2004)
• Routine Screening for Depression, Alcohol Problems, and Domestic Violence [Point-of-Care Guides] (05/15/2004)
• Clinical Review of Recent Findings on the Awareness, Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression [Practice Guidelines] (05/15/2000)

Treatment

• Bipolar Disorders: A Review (03/01/2012)
• Antidepressants for the Treatment of Insomnia in Patients with Depression [FPIN's Clinical Inquiries] (11/01/2011)
• Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy [FPIN's Clinical Inquiries] (05/15/2011)
• APA Releases Guidelines on Treatment of Patients with Major Depressive Disorder [Practice Guidelines] (05/15/2011)
• Effectiveness of Antidepressants Compared with Placebo for Depression in Primary Care [Cochrane for Clinicians] (07/01/2010)
• Depressive Disorders [Clinical Evidence Handbook] (06/01/2006)
• Treatment-Resistant Depression (07/15/2009)
• Pharmacologic Management of Adult Depression (03/15/2008)
• ACP Guideline on Second-Generation Antidepressants for Depression Treatment [Practice Guidelines] (08/01/2009)
• Selegiline Transdermal Patch (Emsam) for Major Depressive Disorder [STEPS] (02/15/2008)
• Cognitive Therapy for Depression (01/01/2006)
• Drug Treatments for Patients with Dysthymia [Cochrane for Clinicians] (10/01/2004)
• Aripiprazole as Adjunctive Therapy in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder [AFP Journal Club] (08/01/2008)
• Duloxetine (Cymbalta) for Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder [STEPS] (09/15/2005)
• Bipolar Disorder [Clinical Evidence Handbook] (04/01/2004)
• Escitalopram (Lexapro) for Depression. [STEPS] (12/01/2003)
• Psychosocial Interventions Delivered by Primary Care Physicians to Patients with Depression [FPIN's Clinical Inquiries] (11/01/2006)
• Counseling or Antidepressants for Treating Depression? [FPIN's Clinical Inquiries] (12/01/2005)
• St. John's Wort for Depression [FPIN's Clinical Inquiries] (04/01/2005)
• Clinical Review of Recent Findings on the Awareness, Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression [Practice Guidelines] (05/15/2000)

Complications and Special Situations

• Depression in Children and Adolescents [Clinical Evidence Handbook] (12/15/2012)
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (12/01/2012)
• Treatment of Childhood and Adolescent Depression (09/01/2012)
• Managing Grief and Depression at the End of Life (08/01/2012)
• Clinical Vignettes in Geriatric Depression (11/15/2011)
• Postpartum Major Depression (10/15/2010)
• Prevention, Recognition, and Management of Serotonin Syndrome (05/01/2010)
• ACOG Guidelines on Psychiatric Medication Use During Pregnancy and Lactation [Practice Guidelines] (09/15/2008)
• GLAD-PC Steering Group Releases Guidelines for the Management of Adolescent Depression in Primary Care [Practice Guidelines] (09/01/2008)
• Postnatal Depression [Clinical Evidence Handbook] (10/01/2005)
• NIH Releases Statement on Managing Pain, Depression, and Fatigue in Cancer [Practice Guidelines] (01/15/2003)
• Depression in Later Life: A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge (05/15/2004)
• Assessment and Treatment of Depression Following Myocardial Infarction (08/15/2001)
• Depression and Sexual Desire (08/15/2000)
• Depression in Women: Diagnostic and Treatment Considerations (07/01/1999)

Editorials and Letters

• Differentiating Grief and Depression in Patients Who Are Seriously Ill [Editorials] (08/01/2012)
• Integrating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy into Management of Depression [Editorials] (04/01/2012)
• Translating a Guideline into Practice: The USPSTF Recommendations on Screening for Depression in Adults [Editorials] (10/15/2010)
• Is Genetic Testing for Cytochrome P450 Polymorphisms Ready for Implementation? [Editorials] (08/01/2007)

Improving Practice

• METRIC. Depression: Improving Patient Care

From Family Practice Management

AAFP's Journal of Practice Improvement

• Coding for Depression Without Getting Depressed (03/01/2004)

Patient Education, Self-Care

• Help for People Who Are Thinking About Suicide (03/15/2012)
• Bipolar Disorders (03/01/2012)
• Caring for Older Family Members with Depression (11/15/2011)
• Postpartum Depression (10/15/2010)
• Treating Depression: What You Should Know (03/15/2008)
• Depression in Children and Teens (01/01/2007)
• Depression: What You Should Know (10/15/2006)
• Cognitive Therapy for Depression: What You Should Know (01/01/2006)
• Depression (09/15/2002)
• Depression in Women (09/15/2002)
• Depression After Heart Attack-What Should I Know? (08/15/2001)
• What to Do if You Think Your Child is Depressed (11/15/2000)
• Depression: How Medicine Can Help (03/01/2000)
• Postpartum Depression and the "Baby Blues" (04/15/1999)

Other AFP Content

• Better Integration of Mental Health Care Improves Depression Screening and Treatment in Primary Care [Graham Center Policy One-Pagers] (11/01/2011)
• The Race Against Time: Coping with Anxiety and Depression [Close-ups] (08/01/2011)