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Depressive and anxiety disorders are common, occurring in up to 25% of primary care patients.
	These disorders can be more disabling, both socially and in terms of physical functioning, than many chronic physical illnesses, such as diabetes, hypertension, arthritis and back pain.
	There is evidence that the medical profession deals poorly with these disorders because of a lack of psychiatric training, the habit of looking for physical causes of symptoms, unnecessarily negative perceptions about the effectiveness of treatment and discomfort in dealing with emotional issues with patients.
In up to half of patients presenting with anxiety or depression, the diagnosis is missed, and in those who are recognised a significant proportion are not treated.

On to section 3.2 . . .