Depression is a major mental health problem that robs affected individuals of their quality of life and increases their morbidity and mortality including suicides in older White males. The current thinking is that vulnerable individuals are at risk of major depressive disorders, which are the result of genetic, age, gender, ethnicity, and environmental factors. According to Healthy People 2020 mental health objective for intervention for depression,health care providers should be provide early screening so multiple treatment modalities can be initiated. This column discusses the recent thinking of depressive disorder and secondary and tertiary treatment options.
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