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The Importance of Efficient Depression Management in Primary Care
- Lisa V. Rubenstein, MD, MSHS; and
- Kimberly A. Hepner, PhD
- From RAND Health Program, Santa Monica, CA 90407.
IN RESPONSE:
We thank Drs. Theleritis and colleagues for pointing out the importance of depression in causing increased mortality due to suicide. As they say, the adverse effects of depression on cardiovascular health and other chronic disease outcomes are well documented. We agree that these effects, in combination with the low quality of care we observed, are cause for alarm. Our comments on mortality related to depression come from a different perspective, however, and we are grateful for the opportunity to clarify.
For many conditions, avoidance of death and hospitalization are critical drivers for quality improvement. For patients hospitalized with congestive heart failure, for example, …
