Diagnosing and Treating Depression

In this activity, family physicians discuss how culture and belief systems can impact diagnosis and management of depression in the family medicine setting. At the heart of this discussion are two video patient vignettes that reveal the patients’ perspective on how their culture influenced their acceptance of the diagnosis and treatment of depression.

Objectives

After completing this activity, participants will be better able to:

• Recognize risk factors, signs and symptoms of depression and the impact that a patient’s ethnic identity/socio-cultural background may have on presentation
• Craft an effective treatment plan, taking into account patient preferences (e.g., medication, psychotherapy or combination therapy)
• Address barriers/challenges that can derail effective management, including cultural/societal influences
• Establish a follow-up plan to assess progress toward patient goals, adjust treatment if needed and minimize risk of relapse

Activities

Activity 1: Cultural Nuances and Challenges in Diagnosing and Treating Depression

Acknowledgment of Support

This program is supported by an educational grant from Eli Lilly and Company.