mypic's Xombytes

One important reason why depression is rampant these days is 'diagnosis'. Many clinicians do not use a tight scale to diagnose this illness. While rounding on my patients I was asked by my nurs if she could start one of our patients on 'some antidepressant' because she felt that he was having depressed. I interviewed the patient to see whether or not he was suffering from depression. During the interview I learned that he had lost his wife not more than a month ago. I did not start him on any kind of antidepressant medication because he was experiencing 'normal grief' and it usually resolves within 2 months of a painful life event. The patient was discharged home in few days and returned to my clinic for follow-up after almost 2 months. He was feeling better, had normal sleep and apatite. If I would have started him on 'some antidepressant' in the first place he probably would have carried the label of 'depression' for the rest of his life.