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Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

A Primary Care Toolkit

Why treat depression in primary care?

Approximately 15% of the population will develop symptoms consistent with a diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) during their lifetime. While everyone feels sad, unhappy or “down in the dumps” at one time or another, MDD refers to persistent symptoms lasting at least 2 consecutive weeks and resulting in a decrease in one’s overall level of functioning. Symptoms of MDD may include depression, anhedonia, appetite and sleep disturbances, diminished attention and/or concentration, feelings of excessive guilt, lack of energy, restlessness, and even suicidal thoughts or behaviors. MDD frequently co-occurs with serious physical illness and typically results in a more difficult and protracted course and outcome of the physical illness.

MDD is a treatable condition. The majority of people have a full remission of symptoms when their MDD is adequately treated. The CCNC Depression Toolkit was designed to help busy primary care practitioners access practical, evidence based tools to help them successfully treat MDD in adults. The toolkit includes implementation recommendations, an overall algorithm to help with the initial assessment to determine MDD severity and the corresponding recommended treatment approach, screening tools, critical decision points, medication recommendations, and many other useful guides. In addition, the toolkit highlights what to do when patients are not responding adequately, including when a referral to a psychiatrist for consultation would be indicated.

Please watch our videos on the Depression Toolkit, featured on the left side of this page.

Our toolkits are available for download below:  

Adolescent Depression Toolkit

Adult Depression Toolkit Documents 

Archived Documents

*This toolkit was adapted from an earlier version created by Community Care of Western North Carolina and is intended only as archived reference materials.