Release Date: August 7, 2012 Expiration Date: August 7, 2013
Faculty
Larry Culpepper, MD, MPH
Professor of Family Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine
Boston, Massachusetts
Philip R. Muskin, MD
Professor of Clinical Psychiatry
Columbia University
Chief of Service: Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry
New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center
New York, New York
Learning Objectives
After participating in this educational activity, participants should be better able to:
- Conduct a comprehensive assessment and differential diagnosis of patients presenting with depressive symptomatology
- Select and initiate antidepressants, psychotherapies, and/or behavioral interventions across heterogeneous patient populations with major depressive disorder
- Monitor and adjust treatments for major depressive disorder over time to improve patient adherence and achieve and maintain remission
Introduction
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability and premature mortality, but it remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. Effective screening, early diagnosis, and appropriate treatment can greatly mitigate the harmful and debilitating effects of this chronic psychiatric disorder. However, evidence suggests that management of depression is challenging for primary care providers (PCPs). First, PCPs must recognize and treat a wide range of manifestations in diverse populations. Second, it may be difficult to communicate the diagnosis of MDD to patients in a manner that promotes acceptance. Finally, selecting appropriate treatment from various psychosocial and pharmacologic options can be a formidable task. To ensure that an individualized patient-centered treatment plan is formulated, PCPs should remain knowledgeable about the clinical profiles of available agents. Importantly, they must implement treatment and monitoring strategies to achieve remission and full functional recovery in patients. This activity presents a comprehensive overview of best practices in screening, diagnosis, and treatment of MDD.
Statement of Disclosure and Independence
It is the policy of Primary Care Network (PCN) to ensure all its sponsored educational activities are planned, developed, and conducted in accordance with the ACCME’s Essential Areas and Policies. In accordance with ACCME requirements, PCN has Conflict of Interest and Disclosure Policies that are designed to ensure that PCN sponsored educational activities are fair balanced, independent, evidence-based and based on scientific rigor.
Primary Care Network’s Resolution of Personal Conflicts of Interest (COI) Policy aims to ensure that all conflicts are resolved prior to the activity, content is developed and presented free of commercial bias, and is in the interest of promoting improvements or quality in healthcare. All individuals who are in a position to influence and/or control content of a PCN sponsored activity are required to disclose to the participants any real or apparent conflict of interest related to the activity. The educational content is also reviewed for independence and content validation by an independent external reviewer and internal clinical reviewer. Independence is also monitored through the activity and overall program evaluation process.
Planning Committee Disclosures
Dr. Larry Culpepper Advisory board: AstraZeneca, Forest Laboratories, LaboPharm USA, Lilly USA, Merck, Pfizer, Takeda, and Travis. Speaker bureau: Merck.
Dr. Philip Muskin Speaker bureau: Bristol-Myers Squibb.
Review Committee Disclosure
In accordance with PCN policy, all content is reviewed by external independent peer reviewers for balance, objectivity, and commercial bias. The peer reviewers, staff, and other individuals who control content have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Acknowledgment of Commercial Support
This activity is supported through an educational grant from Lilly USA, LLC.
Target Audience
This activity is targeted to any primary care provider who treats patients with major depressive disorder.
Unlabeled Use Declaration
During this activity, author(s) may discuss an unlabeled use or an investigational use not approved for a commercial product. Each author is required to disclose this information to the participants when referring to an unlabeled or investigational use.
Accreditation/Designation Statement
Primary Care Network is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Physicians: Primary Care Network designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s). Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nonphysicians: All other healthcare professionals will be issued a certificate of participation.
Method of Participation
To receive credit for this activity, the participant must read the CME information (including learning objectives and disclosures) and the article. Upon finishing the article, participant must complete the session post-test, evaluation, and all required personal information. To receive CME certificate, participant will need to pass the post-test with 70% accuracy or better. If participant receives less than 70%, participant should review the article and take the test again.
Post Test and Evaluation
After completing the CME article, participant must click on the Post-test button at the end of the article. After successful completion of the post-test, participant will be asked to fill out a program evaluation form and prompted to print the CME certificate. Participant can print certificate immediately or enter an email address to which certificate may be emailed.
Hardware/Software Requirements
Policy on Privacy and Confidentiality
Disclaimer
Contact Information
If you have any questions relating to the accreditation of this activity, please contact Primary Care Network.
Phone: 417-841-3658
Phone: 800-769-7565
Email: education@primarycarenet.org
© 2012 Primary Care Network
 | Content for this activity developed by Asante Communications, LLC. |
 | CME accreditation by Primary Care Network. |
