Page 78 - Depression in adults: treatment and management

Depression in adults: treatment and management (NG222)

tackling problems, not speaking up for oneself, distraction and using alcohol or substances to numb

feelings.

Chronic depressive symptoms Chronic depressive symptoms

People with chronic depressive symptoms includes those who continually meet criteria for the
diagnosis of a major depressive episode for at least 2 years, or have persistent subthreshold

symptoms for at least 2 years, or who have persistent low mood with or without concurrent
episodes of major depression for at least 2 years. People with depressive symptoms may also have a
number of social and personal difficulties that contribute to the maintenance of their chronic
depressive symptoms.

Collaborative care Collaborative care

Collaborative care requires that the service user and healthcare professional jointly identify
problems and agree goals for treatments, and normally comprises:

• case management which is supervised and supported by a senior mental health professional

• close collaboration between primary and secondary physical health services and specialist

mental health services in the delivery of services

• the provision of a range of evidence-based treatments

• the long-term coordination of care and follow up.

Depression Depression

In ICD-11, depression is defined as the presence of depressed mood or diminished interest in
activities occurring most of the day, nearly every day, for at least 2 weeks, accompanied by other

symptoms such as:

• reduced ability to concentrate and sustain attention or marked indecisiveness

• beliefs of low self-worth or excessive or inappropriate guilt

• hopelessness about the future

• recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation or evidence of attempted suicide

• significantly disrupted sleep or excessive sleep

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