OBJECTIVE: To provide family physicians with a contemporary approach to formulating a treatment model for major depressive disorder that integrates definitions of new therapeutic end points, familiarizes them with tools for assessing these end points, and describes newer methods for enhancing outcome. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: Canadian Psychiatric Association Guidelines for the Treatment of Depressive Disorders, relevant articles from a MEDLINE search using the MeSH headings"full remission" and "depression," and the authors' clinical experience. MAIN MESSAGE: Major depressive disorder is an episodic, relapsing, and sometimes chronic illness. Depressive symptoms in primary care settings are often vague reports of anhedonia, anxiety, and nonspecific somatic complaints. Therapeutic objectives in depression are full remission of depressive symptoms, prevention of recurrence, and restoration of function. Depression rating scales can be useful for monitoring and treating depression. CONCLUSION: The proposed therapeutic model anticipates the chronic course of illness, defines treatment end points, encourages longer duration of treatment, and includes both pharmacologic and lifestyle therapies. The 7-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale can assist clinicians in determining when full remission has occurred.
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