Major depression in primary medical care practice. Research trends and future priorities.

This paper reviews recent developments in assessing and treating major depression in primary care practice and proposes needed research directions for the coming years. Topics warranting attention include the predictive validity of psychiatric nomenclatures specific to general medical settings; the impact of patient, clinician, and system factors on the physician's assessment of major depression; the relationship between diagnostic and treatment decisions; and the course of this disorder when treated in primary care facilities by generalists or specialists.