Key features of depression and its management in general practice.

"..I had this once before.."

1. People with chronic depression typically exhibit a frankly depressed mood.
2. In chronic depression the level of depression remains remarkably constant in each individual.
3. Chronic depression is rarely disabling.
4. Alcohol abuse is a risk factor for chronic depression.
5. Chronic depression is associated with illness and death in immediate family members.

5. Chronic depression is associated with illness and death in immediate family members.

Author's answer: True.

Failure to recover from major depressive disorder is associated with increased familial loading for depression, disabled spouses, and deaths of immediate family members (9). Social support is often eroded in persons with residual depression, through either the death or illness of significant others. Therefore, a thorough medical evaluation and socially supportive interventions should be essential ingredients of the overall approach to those patients (9).

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