March 15, 2008

Many options are available for the pharmacologic treatment of depression in adults. Consideration of the benefits and risks of different treatment choices should vary by patient.

Many dental infections, such as dental caries and periodontal disease, can be detected and prevented by family physicians during an oral examination. Treatment measures include good oral hygiene, antibiotics if necessary, and referral to a dentist.

A hospice referral may be appropriate for terminally ill patients who have an estimated life expectancy of six months or less. Patient care is enhanced when the family physician is involved and maintains control until the patient's death.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has published multiple recommendations on screening for sexually transmitted infections in the primary care setting. Rather than considering each screen separately, physicians can bundle these recommendations for consideration with men…

If you have done online research, you have probably run into a message like this more than once: “Access to this item requires a subscription to the journal.” Many medical associations restrict online access to their journals to association members and paid subscribers. The…

Family medicine is in a dire situation, and things within the specialty must change. Many discussions in national health care politics are focused on payment changes so that primary care can be financially recognized for its value. That discussion is important, but the…

Senate Testimony Links Primary Care Shortages to Skewed Payment System | IOM Offers Blueprint for Standardizing Systematic Reviews of Clinical Effectiveness | FSMB to Propose Guiding Principles for Physician Licensure Maintenance Process | Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans…

Most people with poor mental health are cared for in primary care settings, despite many barriers. Efforts to provide everyone a medical home will require the inclusion of mental health care if it is to succeed in improving care and reducing costs. Major primary care…

The personal side of medicine told from the patient's perspective. The patient's story is followed by commentary from a physician and a list of resources.

Appendicitis is a relatively uncommon, but potentially serious, cause of abdominal pain in the primary care setting. An accurate diagnosis is important to prevent unnecessary surgery and avoid complications.

Photo Quiz presents readers with a clinical challenge based on a photograph or other image.

An expert panel was convened by the American Cancer Society (ACS) to review the data on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines and to develop recommendations for their use. This group worked independently from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the Centers…

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) has reviewed literature to determine whether adults presenting to the emergency department with acute symptomatic carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning should be treated with hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy, and whether clinical or…

Depression is a serious illness that affects your mood. Most people with depression feel sad or empty. It is probably caused by changes in the chemicals the brain uses to send messages from one nerve cell to another.

Dental caries (CARE-eez) is an infection caused by certain bacteria (germs) in your mouth. It destroys the enamel (the hard outer layer) and dentin (the bone-like tissue under the enamel) of your teeth. More common names for dental caries are cavities and tooth decay.

Hospice (HAH-spiss) is a type of care for patients who are close to dying from an illness.