Major Depressive Disorder in Primary Care: Implementing Evidence-Based Care Pathways. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability and premature mortality, but it remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. Effective screening, early diagnosis, and appropriate treatment can greatly mitigate the harmful and debilitating effects of this chronic psychiatric disorder. However, evidence suggests that management of depression is challenging for primary care providers (PCPs).

When Your Patients Ask About Calcium Supplements. Americans spend more than $1 billion a year on calcium supplements in hopes of staving off osteoporosis. In fact, many of the older patients in your practice probably take calcium supplements to prevent bone loss and hip fractures. So it’s likely that they may have questions for you about a recent study showing that calcium supplements might increase the risk of heart attack and should be "taken with caution."

Talking to Patients about the Affordable Health Care Act. On June 28, 2012, The Supreme Court upheld the 2010 federal healthcare law, dismissing the challenge by states to the law’s requirement that individuals get insurance. The decision will have sweeping ramifications for consumers, state officials, employers, and healthcare providers, including hospitals and doctors.

Are You Up for an Attitude of Gratitude? Most of you would agree that the medical office interview typically focuses on negative questions.

Beware of Childhood Food Allergens--and Treat Them Accordingly. Accidental food exposures frequently cause allergic reactions in preschool-aged children, and severe reactions are rarely treated appropriately.

Thyroid Disease: The Subtle, the Controversial, and the Complex. The thyroid gland impacts nearly all of the body’s metabolic processes, and its disorders cover a wide range of diseases. These conditions are usually seen first in primary care settings, but they frequently go undiagnosed. With proper diagnosis, however, thyroid disorders can usually be well managed.

A "Frank" Talk About Osteoporosis: New Guidelines for Men. While still considered a “woman’s disease,” osteoporosis is indeed a problem for men, too. Moreover, among men whose lifestyle habits put them at increased risk, few recognize the disease as a significant threat to their mobility and independence.

Dial “D” for Depression: Telephone Versus Face-to-Face Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Patients with major depression who received telephone-administered cognitive behavioral therapy had lower rates of discontinuing treatment compared with patients who received face-to-face CBT.

Providing Care for Soldiers Returning From Iraq and Afghanistan. Since September 11, 2001, approximately 2.4 million military personnel have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. To date, roughly 1.44 million have separated from the military; when they return to the states, approximately half will use Veterans Affairs healthcare and the other half will be seen by non-VA primary care providers.

Assessment and Management of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding in the Primary Care Setting. Heavy menstrual bleeding is one of the most frequent complaints in the gynecologic and primary care settings. Twenty percent of women experience excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding at some time during their lives, particularly as they approach menopause.

Horses and Zebras: Rare Conditions in Primary Care. Of the myriad medical conditions you may see over the course of your professional practice, more than 6,000 of them are considered “rare.” We are pleased to offer you information and resources to help you better recognize and manage rare and unusual diseases.

CDC Proposes That All Baby Boomers Be Tested Once for Hepatitis C. The CDC is issuing draft guidelines proposing that all U.S. baby boomers get a one-time blood test for the hepatitis C virus. One in 30 baby boomers—those born from 1945 to 1965—is infected with Hepatitis C, but as many as 50% of them may not know it.

Abby, a 39-year-old writer, has been experiencing common flu-like symptoms of fever, fatigue, and muscle pain for over a week now. She complains of an ongoing lymphadenopathy and she feels as though her knees are 100 years old.

Long-acting Reversible Birth Control Methods More Effective Than Pills, Patch, and Ring. A study to evaluate birth control methods has found dramatic differences in their effectiveness.

PSA Testing: The Jury Is In. The jury is no longer out as to whether or not all men should have a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test to look for prostate cancer.