Be Guided by the Evidence In this new edition of the first volume of the WPA Series, Evidence and Experience in Psychiatry, issues surrounding depressive disorders are examined in a unique and highly informative manner. The six systematic reviews, written by outstanding authors, focus on key topics such as the choice and duration of drug treatment and the cost of depressive disorders. They are accompanied by commentaries giving advice from clinicians of different orientations and countries. This revised and updated volume: * Gives the best available evidence to enable well-informed clinical decision making * Covers developments in diagnosis, therapy, prognosis, economic evaluation and quality improvement * Summarises the evidence and the experience to provide an unbiased and reliable reference point * Comprehensively itemises and evaluates the relevant points This new edition provides insights that will prove invaluable to psychiatrists, psychologists, mental health nurses, managers and policy makers.From Chapter 1 "Depression, like many other mental disorders, is characterised by the presence of a number of symptoms which are changeable over time." Among these symptoms are a depressed mood and a loss of interest; physical and cognitive changes may also occur. Because of difficulties in diagnosis (and varied criteria) only estimates in the global number of cases of depression can be made. Some estimates put it in front of chronic heart disease as a health problem and cause of death. This revised edition covers developments in diagnosis, theraphy, prognosis, economic evaluation and quality improvement. * Provides accompanying commentaries by an outstanding line up of contributors * Covers developments in diagnosis, therapy, prognosis, economic evaluation and quality improvement * Provides an unbiased and reliable reference point