7.1 Introduction

Learning Objectives

  • Apply the nursing process to clients with depressive disorders
  • Describe nursing assessments related to depressive disorders
  • Identify common nursing problems/diagnoses related to depressive disorders
  • Establish a safe environment
  • Apply evidence-based practice when planning and implementing nursing care
  • Describe common treatments for depressive disorders
  • Identify appropriate referrals to community resources
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions
  • Provide patient education to clients and their family members

Depression is a common illness affecting an estimated 8% of adults in the United States annually.[1]Approximately 280 million people in the world have depression.[2] This chapter will discuss causes and types of depression, treatments for depression, and steps for applying the nursing process when caring for clients with depressive disorders.


  1. National Alliance on Mental Illness. (2017, August). Depression. https://nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Depression
  2. Depression by the World Health Organization is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO

License

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Nursing: Mental Health and Community Concepts Copyright © 2022 by Chippewa Valley Technical College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.