Depression and Pain.

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So wrote Robert Burton in The Anatomy of Melancholy in 1621, and today, observed John H. Greist, M.D., melancholy—or depression—still places an enormous burden on the individual and on society. In 2000, depressive disorders ranked fourth worldwide as a source of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), accounting for 4.5% of DALYs and 12.1% of total years lived with disability. Further, added Dr. Greist, in the Americas, depression is ranked first in total DALYs, responsible for a full 8% of the burden.

What do practicing psychiatrists need to know about using genetic tests?