The Guidelines and Protocols Advisory Committee’s (GPAC) revised guideline for the diagnosis and management of major depressive disorder in adults will be available to physicians across British Columbia via www.BCGuidelines.ca [8] in early 2014.

The guideline provides updated recommendations on how to diagnose and manage major depressive disorder (MDD) in the primary care setting for nonpregnant patients aged 19 to 65 years. It does not include recommendations for MDD subtypes (e.g., postpartum depression) or other depressive disorders (e.g., disruptive mood dysregulation disorder).

Key recommendations are: 
•    Screen for MDD with “two quick question” method. 
•    Use the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) to aid in diagnosing and monitoring patients. 
•    Assess suicide risk in all depressed patients. 
•    Several nonpharmacological and pharmacological interventions are available in the short, medium, and long term. 
•    Antidepressants are continued for at least 6 months after remission. 
•    Treat to recover occupational and social functioning. 

For the complete listing of GPAC guidelines please visit www.bcguidelines.ca.  [9]

Physicians interested in participating in the development of future guidelines and protocols should e-mail GPAC at hlth.guidelines@gov.bc.ca [10]. Physician participation in guidelines and protocols development is compensated at the Doctors of BC sessional rate.