Depression and Suicide

Course Overview
Depression is a common, debilitating mood disorder. Depression is highly prevalent in medically ill populations, and many persons with depression are either unaware they need professional help or are reluctant to seek it. Although contact with the primary care setting represents a potential opportunity for timely identification and intervention, abundant evidence indicates that many patients with depression are inadequately diagnosed by nonpsychiatrist physicians, with one study showing inadequate assessment and diagnosis even after training. In addition to depression being underdiagnosed in the primary care setting, even when a valid diagnosis is made, treatment is often inconsistent with current practice guidelines. Provider competence and confidence related to the diagnosis and treatment of depression is one factor; other factors that influence patient outcomes have been identified. One of these factors is treatment adherence, and studies have shown that treatment adherence can be positively influenced by the degree of treatment preference for the prescribed treatment modality and by the process of shared decision-making between physician and patient. These widespread shortcomings in the proper diagnosis, treatment, and implementation of treatment adherence strategies among primary care physicians and other primary care professionals represent an ideal educational target.

Learning Outcomes 
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:

• Outline the epidemiology of depression and suicide.
• Identify populations at increased risk for depression.
• Describe the natural history and pathophysiology of depression.
• Evaluate the signs and symptoms of depression utilizing appropriate screening tools.
• Employ the appropriate diagnostic criteria for depression, including modifier subtypes.
• Assess patients for depressive signs and symptoms, with particular attention to unique features in special populations.
• Identify other conditions that can mimic or co-occur with depression.
• Create a treatment plan for patients diagnosed with depression.
• Compare pharmacotherapies and psychosocial therapies used in the treatment of depression.
• Assess patients’ reactions to depression treatments and identify treatment-resistance depression.
• Recognize and appropriately treat perinatal depression.
• Review the epidemiology of suicide.
• Describe the impact of suicide in the treatment of special populations, including among the elderly.
• Identify risk and protective factors for suicide.
• Evaluate tools available for the assessment and evaluation of suicide risk.
   

About the Author/Presenter 
Mark Rose, BS, MA, LP, is a licensed psychologist in the State of Minnesota with a private consulting practice and a medical research analyst with a biomedical communications firm. Earlier healthcare technology assessment work led to medical device and pharmaceutical sector experience in new product development involving cancer ablative devices and pain therapeutics. Along with substantial experience in addiction research, Mr. Rose has contributed to the authorship of numerous papers on CNS, oncology, and other medical disorders. He is the lead author of papers published in peer-reviewed addiction, psychiatry, and pain medicine journals and has written books on prescription opioids and alcoholism published by the Hazelden Foundation. He also serves as an Expert Advisor and Expert Witness to law firms that represent disability claimants or criminal defendants on cases related to chronic pain, psychiatric/substance use disorders, and acute pharmacologic/toxicologic effects. Mr. Rose is on the Board of Directors of the Minneapolis based International Institute of Anti-Aging Medicine and is a member of several professional organizations.? 

Audience/Accreditations and Approvals 
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE 
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details): 
Counselor, Nursing, Physician, Psychology, Social Work

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