Depression in Patients with Serious Illness
What You’ll Learn
After completing this course, learners will have the tools to accurately identify and treat depression in patients living with a serious illness.
Learning outcomes for this course include:
- Discuss the prevalence of depression among seriously ill patients and the role of the IDT.
- Describe the use of validated tool to screen for depression.
- Discuss four categories of medications used to treat depression.
- Discuss the evidence-base for complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of depression.
- Drug costs when making prescribing decisions for patients.
What You’ll Earn
Only CAPC members who are logged in can earn the following free Continuing Education Credits:
- 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™
- Case Management: 1.25 CE
- Nursing: 1.00 CNE, 0.50 Pharmacotherapy
- Social Work: 1.00 CE (NASW)
- Social Work: 1.00 CE (NYSED)
To take this course, log in. Or, check here to see if your organization is a member.
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Tools & Resources
Used to screen, diagnose and measure the severity of depression.
Key terms related to symptom management. Center to Advance Palliative Care, 2023.
Course citations. Center to Advance Palliative Care, 2023.
Screening and and assessment of depression in patients with advanced cancer.
Screening tools for depression and recommendations for their use.
Practical tools to support health professionals in addressing the emotional needs of patients and caregivers. Published by Dignity in Care, 2016.
Taxonomic and diagnostic tool for mental disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
Course Faculty
Sean M. Marks, MD. Associate Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin.
Brittany Chambers, MPH, MCHES. Associate Director of Education, Center to Advance Palliative Care.
Brynne Hunter, MSIT. Education Technology Project Manager, Center to Advance Palliative Care.
Drew Rosielle, MD, FAAHPM. Palliative Care, Fairview Health Services, University of Minnesota Medical School.
Lolita Melhado, MSN, ARNP, FNP-BC. Family Nurse Practitioner/Palliative Care, Gulf Coast Medical Center - Lee Memorial Health System.
Philip Higgins, PhD, LICSW. President, Lighthouse Counseling of Salem, Inc.
Peer Reviewers
Karl Bezak, MD. Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Palliative Care and Medical Ethics, University of Pittsburgh (UPMC).*
Nora Brennan, RN. Cardiology, University of Pennsylvania Hospital System.
Dara Duncan, RN. Hospice and Palliative Care Registered Nurse, Wiener Family Palliative Care Unit
Mount Sinai Hospital.
Gabrielle Langmann, MD. Clinical Instructor of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center; Master’s of Science in Medical Education Candidate, University of Pittsburgh.*
Ayla Pelleg, MD. Assistant Professor, Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
*indicates ABIM Peer Reviewer
Contact information: For answers to frequently asked questions about CAPC courses, read the Online Course FAQ. For technical questions about course activity, email membership@capc.org. For questions about continuing education credits, contact 201-957-0077.

Provided by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.