Needless suffering is associated with unrecognized and inappropriately treated affective disorders. Differential diagnosis of these conditions is complex and requires medical expertise. Complicating factors include overlapping symptoms of different psychiatric conditions, masked depression, life-stage related differences in symptomatology, medical conditions that masquerade as affective disorders, and the effects of substance abuse. Practitioners in family and children's agencies are strategically located to help clients by screening for affective disorders and making appropriate psychiatric referrals. A screening framework is presented. The need to develop partnerships with psychiatrists is discussed.
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