Articles
Below you will find information for primary care providers and behavioral health practitioners, including assessment and treatment. You will also find patient education materials, including articles, resources, tips and information about support groups.
Accepting and Coping with a Chronic Illness (retired)
Until you are diagnosed with a chronic illness it is difficult to predict how you will react. Much like the stages of grief, coping with a diagnosis also has its stages.
Depression and Heart Disease (retired)
Depressive illness is a common condition and affects 1 in 5 individuals at some time in their lives. It is characterized by feelings of sadness, lack of pleasure or loss of interest in daily life. Patients with chronic physical illness are at even higher risk than the general population with respect to developing depressive disorders.
Resources
These organizations can provide you with additional information about depression and its treatment.
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) Opens in a new window
3615 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20016-3007
Telephone: (202) 966-7300
www.aacap.org
American Medical Association Opens in a new window
Telephone: (202) 237-2280
www.ama-assn.org
Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) Opens in a new window
730 North Franklin Street, Suite 501 \
Chicago, IL 60610
Telephone: (800) 826-3632
www.dbsalliance.org/
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Opens in a new window
Colonial Place Three
2107 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201-3042
Telephone: (800) 950-NAMI (800-950-6264)
www.nami.org
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Opens in a new window
6001 Executive Boulevard
Room 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
Telephone: (800) 421-4211
www.nimh.nih.gov
Mental Health America (MHA) Opens in a new window
500 Montgomery Street, Suite 820
Alexandria, VA 22314
Toll Free (800) 969-6642
www.mentalhealthamerica.net
Clinical Guidelines
Below please find clinical best practice guidelines developed by nationally-recognized organizations that assist providers in clinical decision-making.
The MacArthur Initiative on Depression Primary Care Opens in a new window
The MacArthur Initiative
Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients with Major Depression Opens in a new window \
American Psychiatric Association
Appraisal
Download and print a Depression Appraisal that you can give to your patients who might be dealing with Depression.