PsychoTropical Research - Dr Ken Gillman, Serotonin Syndrome, Mirtazapine, Dual Action Drugs.Depression - Desktop reminder.

PsychoTropicalResearch, serotonin and serotonin syndrome research.

Depression - Desktop reminder

Depression - Desktop reminder

Date Created: 21/06/1999   Last Modified: 15/01/2000   Last Checked: 11/02/2003

DDAssist 'Depression Diagnosis Assistant'

DESKTOP REMINDER (FOR USE in conjunction WITH DDAssist COMPUTER PROGRAM)

Points to consider when seeing patients

  1. Remind yourself to try to avoid appearing to be hurried.
  2. Be prepared to listen, minimise interruptions (turn the phone off).
  3. Establish good eye contact.
  4. Clarify presenting complaint.
  5. Avoid Questions answerable by a “yes” or “no”. (called 'closed' Questions).
  6. Be sensitive to both verbal and non-verbal cues.
  7. Ask Questions derived from verbal cues (rather than just theory).
  8. But do ask direct (but not leading) questions for important symptoms?
    9. (see prompts on DDAssist computer questionnaire for examples)
  9. Be empathic.
  10. Tolerate periods of silence-- (It is an opportunity to observe).

Screening questions

Have you had:

  1. Low energy?
  2. Loss of interest?
  3. Reduced confidence?
  4. Feelings of hopelessness?

If yes to any one of the above then ask:--

Have you had:--

  1. Difficulty concentrating?
  2. Weight loss?
  3. Early morning waking?
  4. Feeling slowed up?
  5. Felt worse in the mornings?

Scoring; If yes to two questions there is a 50% chance of a clinically important depressive illness.

A definite yes to four or more makes a major depressive disorder highly likely.