Managing depression in primary care

Depression is highly prevalent in primary care, constituting a major burden on the UK healthcare system.1 Although statistics vary, it appears that between 15 and 40 per cent of presentations to general practice are for depression. By 2020 clinical depression will be second only to heart disease as a health burden worldwide, so it is imperative that we improve the diagnosis and management of depression.

All nurses in primary care have a role to play in indentifying and assessing depression, and many can support patients with interventions to treat and manage it.