Mood and Anxiety Disorders: Major Depressive Disorder.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is defined as five or more of the following symptoms in the past 2 weeks, during which at least one is depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure: depressed mood; diminished interest or pleasure in activities; significant weight loss or gain, or decreased or increased appetite; insomnia or hypersomnia; psychomotor agitation or retardation; fatigue or loss of energy; feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt; poor concentration or indecisiveness; or recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation, plan, or attempt. Screening for MDD is recommended in the general adult population when resources are available for diagnosis, management, and follow-up. Several screening tools are available, including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Beck Depression Inventory for Primary Care (BDI-PC). Laboratory tests may be considered to assess for significant comorbidities, differential diagnoses, or contraindications to treatment. Management of MDD depends on its severity and may include psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, or both. The drugs most commonly used are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Treatment should be continued for at least 16 to 24 weeks to prevent recurrence. Referral to a psychiatrist or other mental health clinician should be considered when the diagnosis is in question or when symptoms do not improve with standard treatment.

Mood and Anxiety Disorders: Bipolar Disorder.

Bipolar I disorder affects approximately 0.4% to 1% of the global population. In the United States, bipolar-related disorders are associated with a significant economic burden because of the functional impairment they cause. Due to long wait times for access to specialist physicians and insurance issues, primary care physicians frequently manage this condition. Up to 4% of patients in primary care have bipolar disorder (BD). The diagnostic criteria for bipolar-related disorders are complex, and screening tools alone are insufficient for identification. Diagnosis involves a comprehensive clinical assessment that often requires multiple visits. Lithium continues to be the gold-standard mood-stabilizing drug for BD management and maintenance therapy in adults. Some anticonvulsants and atypical antipsychotics also have been shown to be effective for maintenance therapy. Ketamine is being studied as a possible future treatment option, but current research does not support its use. Psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and psychoeducation on management strategies, can be a useful adjunct therapy. Mental health clinicians can support primary care physicians in the evaluation and treatment of patients with BD.

Mood and Anxiety Disorders: Suicide.

In the United States, suicide was the cause of more than 47,500 deaths in 2019. Females attempt suicide 1.5 times more frequently than males. However, rates of completed suicide are higher in males than in females. In the US population, the suicide rate is highest in adults older than 75 years. Factors associated with an increased risk of suicide include geographic and social isolation, low access to clinical resources, unemployment, and poverty. Patients with mental disorders, including schizophrenia, major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder, and substance use disorder, are at increased risk. Directly questioning a patient about suicide has not been shown to increase the patient's risk of completing suicide. Physicians should ask patients about any suicide plans and details of timing, location, means, and any preparation for the act. The goal of pharmacotherapy in patients with suicidality is management of comorbid mood disorders, most often MDD. Esketamine nasal spray is a pharmacotherapy option for MDD management in patients with acute suicidal ideation or behavior. It is approved for use in conjunction with an oral antidepressant. Use of "no harm contracts" or "safety contracts," in which patients attest that they will not commit suicide, should not be relied on to the exclusion of a formal suicide risk assessment and thorough clinical evaluation.

Mood and Anxiety Disorders: Generalized Anxiety and Panic Disorders.

Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive fear and worry. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder (PD) are two of the most common anxiety disorders in the United States. GAD is defined as excessive worry and anxiety that occur on most days for at least 6 months that affect daily functioning. PD is defined by recurrent unexpected panic attacks. Patients with symptoms of GAD or PD should be assessed for conditions such as hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, and cardiac arrhythmia before confirmation of an anxiety disorder diagnosis. A U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) draft statement recommends screening for anxiety in adults 64 years and younger, including pregnant and postpartum women. A final statement recommends screening for anxiety in children and adolescents ages 8 to 18 years. Multiple self-report tools have been validated for GAD and PD screening. The 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale is an option for screening for GAD. The Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) is a 7-item tool with excellent sensitivity and specificity in screening for PD. Management with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors in combination with psychotherapy has been shown to be effective for GAD and PD. Research on alternative treatments, such as psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, is ongoing.