How to improve recognition and diagnosis of depressive syndromes using international diagnostic criteria.

摘要

International diagnostic criteria for depression have been elaborated in order to standardize and to facilitate diagnostic assessment. The findings of the present survey suggest that general practitioners (GPs) do accurately assess the individual depressive symptoms required to fulfill international diagnostic criteria for depressive syndromes. Training GPs to use these diagnostic criteria may be a way of improving recognition and diagnosis of depression in general practice.