This is the first comprehensive, evidence-based clinical guideline on managing depression in palliative care. The multinational
nature of our expert group meant that the guideline incorporated the knowledge, expertise and experience of experts from 10 European countries. Regional variations in policy and patient care were identified within the expert group and these were debated to determine best practice. However, guideline development was led by a UK research group and as a consequence British clinicians were over-represented in the expert group. Health care organisation and models of palliative care vary considerably across Europe and there are also important differences in public and professional perceptions, terminology and treatments. It is possible that the guideline content reflects the British bias in composition of the expert group and that some recommendations may be less applicable to countries with contrasting systems of care. In the main, though, the guideline promotes best practice appropriate to all European countries, irrespective of health care context and culture, and we hope it will help harmonise palliative care policy and practice across the continent.