Common Mental Disorders Depression - New Zealand Doctor
Common Mental Disorders Depression - New Zealand Doctor
Common Mental Disorders Depression - New Zealand Doctor
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About the guideline<br />
Foreword<br />
The <strong>New</strong> <strong>Zealand</strong> Guidelines Group Incorporated (NZGG) is a not-for-profit<br />
non-governmental organisation committed to leading the effective use of reliable<br />
evidence in the <strong>New</strong> <strong>Zealand</strong> health and disability sector. One way it shows<br />
leadership is through the production of evidence-based guidelines.<br />
Our guidelines are developed from systematic reviews of international literature.<br />
The evidence is placed within the <strong>New</strong> <strong>Zealand</strong> context, so that recommendations<br />
on best practice can be implemented by all people affected by the guideline,<br />
whether they are practitioners, consumers or policy makers.<br />
Scope of the guideline<br />
This guideline addresses the identification of common mental disorders and the<br />
management of depression in primary care in all age groups. Special issues pertaining<br />
to older adults and mental disorders in the antenatal and postnatal period are also<br />
addressed. Among young people the focus is largely on adolescents as the prevalence<br />
of mental disorders is high in this group.<br />
The guideline does not detail the management of common mental disorders other<br />
than depression. It is intended for use by all health care practitioners practising in<br />
a primary care setting, including general practitioners, practice nurses, midwives,<br />
counsellors, nurse practitioners, psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers and<br />
school nurses. While the guideline is intended to inform development of service<br />
frameworks, it does not make specific recommendations in this area.<br />
In this guideline, the term depression is used as shorthand for a disorder meeting<br />
the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of <strong>Mental</strong> <strong>Disorders</strong> (DSM) or the International<br />
Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) diagnostic<br />
criteria for major depression/major depressive episode. Depressive disorder is used<br />
to refer to a condition meeting DSM or ICD diagnostic criteria for a depressive<br />
disorder (eg, major depression, dysthymia, postnatal depression).<br />
Identification of <strong>Common</strong> <strong>Mental</strong> <strong>Disorders</strong> and Management of <strong>Depression</strong> in Primary Care<br />
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