1 results
4 - Management of more complicated depression in primary care: case studies UK
-
- By Elizabeth Murray, General Practitioner and Reader in Primary Care, Royal Free and University College, Medical School London, James Oliver, Substance Abuse Counsellor Lonsdale Medical Centre, London, Avril Danczak, General Practitioner and GP Tutor and Trainer Manchester Primary Care Trust, Mike Cheshire, Consultant Physician in Medicine Elderly, Central Manchester and Manchester, Children's Hospital Trust, Joanne Protheroe, General Practitioner and Clinical Research Fellow, Primary Care Research Group, School of Community Based Medicine, University of Manchester, David Challis, Professor of Community Care Research, Jane Hughes, Lecturer in Community Care Research, Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Manchester, Greta Rait, General Practitioner and Senior Lecturer Primary Care, Royal Free University College, Medical School, London, Ahmed I. Lambat, Manager and Social Work Practice Teacher, Manchester
- Carolyn A. Chew-Graham, University of Manchester, Robert Baldwin, Alistair Burns, University of Manchester
-
- Book:
- Integrated Management of Depression in the Elderly
- Published online:
- 18 December 2009
- Print publication:
- 03 April 2008, pp 55-82
-
- Chapter
- Export citation
-
Summary
The next commentaries illustrate the management of patients with increasingly complex problems where the management needs to be integrated with other professionals.
Hidden alcohol consumption
Mrs Ruth M is a 79-year-old lady who attends the practice infrequently, only when she needs her blood checking for thyroid function (she has been on thyroxine for 10 years) and her flu vaccine with the practice nurse. She makes an appointment with her GP as she has been feeling really run down recently and wonders if the dose of thyroxine needs changing. She is having difficulty sleeping and has tended to withdraw from her usual activities (going to the library and reading, meeting her friends for a drink in their local pub). She admits to the GP that she does ‘enjoy a tipple’ and feels that she might have been drinking more than usual in the past few months. She often has a drink with her mid-morning coffee as it stops her feeling so awful, and she has always had a couple of whiskies in the evening to help her sleep, but that doesn't seem to be working at the moment.
What factors should be taken into account in the assessment of this patient's mood?
How should Mrs RM be investigated?
Who might the GP work with in the management of this patient?
Assessment
Background
Mrs RM has probably found it difficult to admit to feeling low and run down, and is likely to have delayed coming to the doctor.