Diagnostic dilemmas presented by patients with anxiety and depression

Abstract

Although anxiety and depression are among the most common symptoms of persons seen in medical practice, a number of dilemmas still exist in the identification and management of these disorders. The objectives of this paper are to review the prevalence and identification of anxiety, depression, and mixed anxiety-depression in medical practice; to review issues involving the medical evaluation of these disorders; to clarify the relevance of psychosocial issues to choice of treatment; and to review issues involving medication treatment choices.