The evolving role of the primary care practitioner in adolescent depression screening and treatment.

Increasing rates of depression in adolescents coupled with a decrease in the availability of psychiatric care has created the need for primary care physicians to become proficient in the screening and first-line treatment of mental and emotional disorders in their adolescent patients. This paper reviews the epidemiology and natural course of depression in adolescents, the health care climate changes leading to a decrease in the availability of psychiatric care in the community, and the role of the primary care practitioner in screening for and treating depression in the adolescent patient. In addition, screening tools and specific pharmacotherapeutic approaches are discussed.