---
title: Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression in Primary Care
description: This article provides recommendations to create a process for screening, diagnosing, treating, co-managing, and referring depressed and suicidal patients.
image: https://files.norcal-group.com/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202020-03-24%20at%208.11.31%20AM.png
---

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# [***CLAIMS Rx*** DIRECTORY](https://www.norcal-group.com/claimsrx)

## RISK MANAGEMENT PUBLICATION

# Diagnosis and Treatment of Depression in Primary Care

November 2019

Physicians and Advanced Practice Professionals are in an excellent position to make a significant positive impact on their patients’ behavioral health. Unfortunately, there are patient safety and liability risks associated with treating depressed patients in a primary care setting. This article examines issues within NORCAL Group recently closed claims, and provides tools and recommendations to create a process for screening, diagnosing, treating, co-managing, and referring depressed and/or suicidal patients. Having systems in place and appropriately documenting the various elements of each treatment encounter can both reduce liability and improve patient outcomes.

| **CASE STUDY ** Managing a Complex Patient **RISK MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS** Depression Screening, Assessment, and Treatment **RISK MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS** Suicide Risk Screening, Assessment, and Treatment | **RISK MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS**  Referrals and Co-Management **RISK MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS**  Antidepressant Black-Box Warnings **SPECIAL FEATURE** Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Peripartum Depression in Primary Care |
| --- | --- |

**Related Topics:** [Suicide](https://www.norcal-group.com/claimsrx/tag/suicide), [Primary Care](https://www.norcal-group.com/claimsrx/tag/primary-care), [Referral](https://www.norcal-group.com/claimsrx/tag/referral), [Medication Management](https://www.norcal-group.com/claimsrx/tag/medication-management), [Depression](https://www.norcal-group.com/claimsrx/tag/depression), [Behavioral Health](https://www.norcal-group.com/claimsrx/tag/behavioral-health), [Telemedicine](https://www.norcal-group.com/claimsrx/tag/telemedicine), [Scope of Practice](https://www.norcal-group.com/claimsrx/tag/scope-of-practice), [Co-management](https://www.norcal-group.com/claimsrx/tag/co-management)

depression,psychiatry,behavioral health,mental health,psychiatric medications,suicide,suicidality,suicidal, primary care,tapering antidepressants,referral,antidepressants,telepsychiatry,telebehavioral health, telemedicine,telehealth,risk assessment,psychotherapy,SAMHSA,integrated care,antidepressant,MDD,major depressive disorder,FDA,peripartum depression,postpartum depression,AAFP,ACOG,maternal depression

![November 2019](https://files.norcal-group.com/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202020-03-24%20at%208.11.31%20AM.png "November 2019")

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