Browsing by Subject "general practice"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Dealing with major depression in general practice
    (South African Academy of Family Physicians, 2013) Freeman, C P; Joska, J A
    One in ten South Africans will be diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) at some point in their lives. MDD is a potentially disabling condition that affects many spheres of an individual's life and leads to marked social and occupational dysfunction. General practitioners are frequently required to diagnose and manage MDD, often in a time-pressured primary healthcare setting. This article aims to provide practitioners with an overview of MDD. It covers aspects of diagnosis, co-morbidity, pharmacology and special patient groups.
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    Dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder in general practice
    (South African Academy of Family Physicians, 2012) Suliman, S; Stein, Dan J
    Traumatic experiences are prevalent in South Africa and may result in psychiatric disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is accompanied by a range of psychobiological alterations, including changes in brain structure and functioning. General practitioners have an important role to play in identifying and assisting those in need of help. Efficacious psychotherapies and pharmacotherapies are available for PTSD, i.e. cognitive behavioural therapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
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    Dealing with substance use disorders in general practice
    (South African Academy of Family Physicians, 2012) Pasche, S C; Stein, Dan J
    Substance use disorders are highly prevalent in South Africa. General practitioners are often the first point of contact and play an essential role in correctly identifying the substance use problem. This article provides an overview of the importance of screening for and assessing substance use disorders and identifying the severity of the substance use disorder, so that the right level of management can be ensured. It also examines associated co-morbidities and provides a general overview of the management of substance use disorders.
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    Healthy lifestyle interventions in general practice: Part16: Lifestyle and fibromyalgia
    (South African Academy of Family Physicians, 2011) Derman, E W; Whitesman, S; Dreyer, M; Patel, D N; Nossel, C; Schwellnus, M P
    Fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder, characterised by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain, and the presence of multiple tender points as well as a host of associated symptomatology. Optimal management of patients with fibromyalgia requires a multidisciplinary approach, with a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions that are tailored to the patient's pain, dysfunction and associated features, including depression, sleep disorder and fatigue. Non-pharmacological lifestyle-based interventions to treat this disorder include exercise therapy, dietary modification, and psychosocial interventions. This review outlines these three forms of lifestyle intervention in patients with fibromyalgia.