Barriers to the Treatment of Depression

The postgraduate education of family doctors in Gotland, Sweden to increase their knowledge of diagnosis & treatment of depressive disorders initially showed very positive results. A statistically significant decline in the suicide rate was also observed when it was compared to both long-term trends in Gotland & in Sweden as a whole. This result highlights the need for the identification & appropriate treatment of depressive disorders & the serious consequences of the failure to do so. (0 refs.)