부산대학교 도서관

Background: Depressive disorders are a frequent reason for consultations in general practice. Evidence-based guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of unipolar depression support general practitioners (GPs) in the treatment of patients.Objectives: To present the up-dated version of the German National Guideline (NVL)—Unipolar Depression and its relevance for primary care providers.Materials and methods: Comparison of the 2022 and 2015 versions of the NVL—Unipolar Depression with a focus on GP practice.Results: The updated version of the NVL picks up on current scientific developments and advises on new drugs such as esketamine and increasingly relevant treatment strategies such as internet- and mobile-based interventions (IMI). In particular, the areas of functioning and participation are highlighted in their importance for diagnosis and treatment. In contrast to the previous version of the NVL on unipolar depression, no recommendation is made regarding “watchful waiting” as a therapy alternative. The new version of the NVL emphasizes “shared decision making” and the involvement of relatives.Conclusion: The updated version of the NVL emphasises the importance of GP care for unipolar depression. However, it does not go into detail on whether and how guidelines should be implemented in clinical practice. Close cooperation between users and the guideline group seems to be particularly important when it comes to implementing evidence-based recommendations in practice.