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If a person is depressed, when should they call a doctor?

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Host: If a person is depressed, when should they call a doctor?

Dr. Kim Penberthy: I think they should call a doctor right away. If they feel these symptoms of depression and are concerned about it or their family members have mentioned that they think something is wrong, it is important because you can be depressed and not really know it and it's always better to be safe and call your family physician who can do a screening and talk with you and ask you some questions and find out and that person, your family physician may feel like you need a more thorough evaluation and refer you to a specialist, but it's better to be safe than sorry. So it is important to go in and talk to somebody.

Expert: Dr. Kim Penberthy

Dr. Penberthy attended Wake Forest University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology and biology. She obtained a master’s degree in experimental psychology from Wake Forest University in 1992. Dr. Penberthy collaborated in research conducted at the UNC-Chapel Hill Center for Alcohol Studies, in the Medical School, and then at the Cancer Research Center at Duke University. She then completed her More »