185302 - Depression

This online education module covers the following topics:
Assessing and diagnosing depression
Assessing and managing risk in the depressed patient
The development of mental health treatment plan
Pharmacological management of depression

Depression is a common condition. In Australia,15.0% of Australians aged 16 to 85 have experienced an affective disorder1. This is equivalent to 2.83 million people today1. Based on data from the 2015-2016 BEACH survey, depression was the most frequently managed mental health problem in Australian general practice, accounting for approximately 2.7% of all managed problems2.
Despite increased levels of awareness, both in the community and healthcare sector, depression still remains underdetected and undertreated. There is an urgent need to better equip general practitioners to recognise and treat depression in primary care.
References
1.Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2015).National Health Survey First Results – Australia 2014-15.Canberra: ABS.
2.Britt H,Miller GC,Henderson J,Bayram C,Harrison C,Valenti L,Pan Y,Charles J,Pollack AJ,Wong C,Gordon J.General practice activity in Australia 2015–16.General Practice series no.40.Sydney:Sydney University Press,20

D1. Communication skills and the patient-doctor relationship

• Communication is clear, respectful, empathic and appropriate to the person and their sociocultural context

D2. Applied professional knowledge and skills

• The conduct of the consultation is appropriate to the needs of the patient and the sociocultural context

D3. Population health and the context of general practice

D4. Professional and ethical role

• Adherence to relevant codes and standards of ethical and professional behaviour

D5. Organisational and legal dimensions

• Shared decision making and informed consent are explained and obtained

• Psychological health