Amra Zalihic, M.D. Ph.D.

Depression occurs as an independent disease or as a complication of other diseases. In the latter case, it complicates the existing disease and its treatment is difficult. We have excellent family physicians in my town and in my country. However, only few of them dare to treat depression in primary practice. May be, family physicians fear to treat depression, may be they do not have enough time (family physicians have to see more than 40 patients every day), or may be, they just forget to treat depression because they try to solve all medical problems.Recently, I performed a survey of the patients suffering from cardiovascular disease. It was found that 50% of patients who survived stroke and 27.3% of those who survived a heart attack had clinical depression. Unfortunately, depression is a disease that is increasingly prevalent in the population, either as a primary disease or as a complication of other diseases. It requires intensive treatment.