Posted by seldomseen on March 25, 2009, at 21:00:04
In reply to What your docs and nurses and phamacists learning, posted by Phillipa on March 25, 2009, at 18:54:19
This all sounds quite reasonable to me, except for two things.
First, I think a primary care physician should refer a patient to a psychiatrist after the first failure in treatment with an SSRI. Even with reviews and CMEs such as these, I do not think PCPs have the training to handle these cases.
Second, although I will admit that I scanned the post, I did not see any mention as to how the diagnosis of depression is made by the PCP. As has been noted multiple times on this board, depression may simply be a symptom of an underlying disease process. The PCP, I think, should not immediately prescribe anti-depressants without a complete examination. If a diagnosis of depression is made, then the first phase of treatment should begin.
Just my opinion as a patient.
Seldom.
poster:seldomseen
thread:886983
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20090322/msgs/887023.html