i
Loading Page
loading, please wait

Select Year:

Home > MN Providers > Family Physicians & Family Medicine Specialists
placeholder image of provider

Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD

Accepting New Patients
Specializes in: Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine (1998)
Professional interests include: anxiety, depression, preventive care
295 Phalen Boulevard
Saint Paul, MN 55130

Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD is a family medicine practitioner in Saint Paul, MN specializing in family medicine and addiction medicine. He graduated from Indiana University School of Medicine in 1998 and has 28 years of experience.

View Doctor's Full Profile (651) 495-6500

Office Locations

295 Phalen Boulevard
Saint Paul, MN 55130
(651) 495-6500
open_in_new
640 Jackson Street
Saint Paul, MN 55101
(651) 254-4786
open_in_new

Some issues Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD can help you with:

Anxiety

Anxiety is a generic name given to a variety of conditions characterized by unusual amounts of fear and worry, especially unrealistic fears and tension. People who suffer from anxiety often are aware that their fears are irrational, but that knowledge does not make the feeling of being scared and anxious go away. To qualify as anxiety, symptoms must last for 6 months or more and interfere with the way a person lives their daily life. Some cases may be mild, where, for example, a person simply avoids certain situations. Other cases can be severe enough to be disabling.

Some of the specific conditions covered under the general label of anxiety include:

  • Generalized anxiety disorder
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Phobias
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Social phobia
  • Panic disorder

Collectively, anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issues diagnosed in the United States -- even more common than depression. Women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with anxiety, and it is extremely common for a person with anxiety to have another illness at the same time, such as depression, a physical illness, or substance abuse.

Treatment for anxiety usually involves medication and psychotherapy together. Medications used may include antidepressants (which also work for anxiety), anti-anxiety medications, or beta blockers (which can be used to control the physical symptoms of anxiety). Psychotherapy can be useful to teach patients new ways of thinking and reacting so that they can manage their feelings of worry and fear. Support groups can also be very effective for anxiety, and they can be a form of treatment themselves for social phobias. Stress management, relaxation techniques, and meditation all help reduce feelings of anxiety or of being out of control. Finally, having a strong support network of family and friends is an excellent way to help manage the difficulties of life with anxiety.

Depression

Everyone knows what it feels like to get the blues once in a while. But depression is a serious illness that is more severe than a bad day and lasts much longer. Symptoms of depression stop a person from being able to function and enjoy daily activities for weeks or months at a time. It can happen to anyone, and it isn't something that people can control by force of will or "snap out of it."

Some common symptoms of depression include:

  • Feeling sad, guilty, empty or hopeless
  • Fatigue and a lack of energy and motivation
  • A loss of pleasure in activities that were previously enjoyed
  • Unusual sleep or eating habits
  • Mental fog -- trouble concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
  • Physical aches and pains
  • Suicidal thoughts or a preoccupation with death

We don't yet know what causes depression, but it's thought that it is a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and social influences. Because of this, the most effective treatments for depression combine medication with psychotherapy. Therapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy, can be extremely helpful in resolving the negative thoughts and feelings that come with depression. It gives patients new tools that they can use themselves to cope when their depression is making them feel down.

Some of the common medications used to treat depression include antidepressants such as SSRI's (Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft) or atypical antidepressants (Cymbalta, Wellbutrin). It's important to remember that these medications have different effects on everybody, and no one medication works right for everyone. Patients may have to try a couple before finding the one that works just right for them. If the first medication they try doesn't work, they should talk to their doctor about trying something else. In extreme cases where medication is not enough, electro-convulsive therapy and hospitalization may be the answer to keeping a severely depressed person safe.

Depression is a difficult illness to deal with, but it is more common than believed and there are many people who can help. With the right treatment, individuals with depression can get back to fully enjoying life again.

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2012 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD treated as a family medicine practitioner in Saint Paul, MN during 2012 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care 210
inpatient care 210

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2013 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD treated as a family medicine practitioner in Saint Paul, MN during 2013 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care 197
inpatient care 197

2013 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD.

Gender
Male 64
Female 61
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 100
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 25
From 75 to 84 33
85 and over 17
Less than 65 50

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD in 2013

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 62
Stroke 10
Ischemic Heart Disease 48
Depression 46
Chronic Kidney Disease 63
Asthma 14
Osteoperosis 12
Atrial Fibrilation 23
Heart Failure 37
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 20
Diabetes 34
Dementia 18
Cancer 13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2014 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD treated as a family medicine practitioner in Saint Paul, MN during 2014 were hospital care, inpatient care and outpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care 259
inpatient care 241
outpatient care 18

2014 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD.

Gender
Male 66
Female 84
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 126
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 22
From 75 to 84 34
85 and over 58
Less than 65 36

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD in 2014

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 64
Stroke 15
Ischemic Heart Disease 41
Depression 44
Chronic Kidney Disease 55
Asthma 13
Osteoperosis 25
Atrial Fibrilation 23
Heart Failure 38
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 22
Diabetes 33
Dementia 31
Cancer 13

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2015 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD treated as a family medicine practitioner in Saint Paul, MN during 2015 were hospital care, inpatient care and outpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD for Medicare patients.

hospital care 459
inpatient care 428
outpatient care 31

2015 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD.

Gender
Male 188
Female 194
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 326
Black 34
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 74
From 75 to 84 100
85 and over 100
Less than 65 108

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD in 2015

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 60
Stroke 17
Ischemic Heart Disease 42
Depression 49
Chronic Kidney Disease 53
Asthma 19
Osteoperosis 13
Atrial Fibrilation 27
Heart Failure 44
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 25
Diabetes 36
Dementia 30
Cancer 16

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2016 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD treated as a family medicine practitioner in Saint Paul, MN during 2016 were blood draw, preventive care, vaccines and lab tests.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD for Medicare patients.

blood draw 28
doctor visit 138
lab tests 14
preventive care 16
vaccines 16

2016 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD.

Gender
Male 70
Female 58
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 116
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 48
From 75 to 84 30
85 and over 19
Less than 65 31

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD in 2016

Hypertension 51
High Cholesterol 37
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 30
Depression 20
Chronic Kidney Disease 27
Asthma 10
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 10
Heart Failure 16
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 10
Diabetes 20
Dementia 9
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2017 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD treated as a family medicine practitioner in Saint Paul, MN during 2017 were blood draw and lab tests.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD for Medicare patients.

blood draw 37
doctor visit 135
lab tests 30

2017 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD.

Gender
Male 64
Female 55
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 90
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 50
From 75 to 84 25
85 and over 15
Less than 65 29

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD in 2017

Hypertension 46
High Cholesterol 22
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 20
Depression 21
Chronic Kidney Disease 27
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 10
Heart Failure 12
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 24
Dementia 0
Cancer 9

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2018 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD treated as a family medicine practitioner in Saint Paul, MN during 2018 were blood draw.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD for Medicare patients.

blood draw 43
doctor visit 80

2018 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD.

Gender
Male 44
Female 28
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 33
Black 26
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 39
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 0

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD in 2018

Hypertension 33
High Cholesterol 26
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 0
Depression 19
Chronic Kidney Disease 21
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 0
Heart Failure 0
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 28
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2019 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD treated as a family medicine practitioner in Saint Paul, MN during 2019 were blood draw, preventive care, hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD for Medicare patients.

blood draw 85
diabetes management 21
doctor visit 116
hospital care 23
inpatient care 23
lab tests 21
preventive care 33
vaccines 12

2019 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD.

Gender
Male 85
Female 46
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 83
Black 34
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 71
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 27

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD in 2019

Hypertension 56
High Cholesterol 40
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 24
Depression 34
Chronic Kidney Disease 29
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 11
Heart Failure 18
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 0
Diabetes 34
Dementia 10
Cancer 11

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2020 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD treated as a family medicine practitioner in Saint Paul, MN during 2020 were hospital care, inpatient care and blood draw.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD for Medicare patients.

blood draw 48
doctor visit 92
hospital care 105
inpatient care 105

2020 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD.

Gender
Male 78
Female 49
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 89
Black 22
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 44
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 63

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD in 2020

Hypertension 58
High Cholesterol 37
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 31
Depression 55
Chronic Kidney Disease 38
Asthma 10
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 11
Heart Failure 19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 17
Diabetes 24
Dementia 9
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2021 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD treated as a family medicine practitioner in Saint Paul, MN during 2021 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 132
hospital care 101
inpatient care 101

2021 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD.

Gender
Male 69
Female 35
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 73
Black 19
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 0
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 61

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD in 2021

Hypertension 71
High Cholesterol 42
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 39
Depression 63
Chronic Kidney Disease 54
Asthma 18
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 13
Heart Failure 25
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 27
Diabetes 32
Dementia 13
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2022 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD treated as a family medicine practitioner in Saint Paul, MN during 2022 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 120
hospital care 60
inpatient care 60

2022 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD.

Gender
Male 54
Female 35
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 70
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 0
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 51

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD in 2022

Hypertension 75
High Cholesterol 49
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 33
Depression 65
Chronic Kidney Disease 29
Asthma 19
Osteoperosis 12
Atrial Fibrilation 28
Heart Failure 28
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 29
Diabetes 31
Dementia 12
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2023 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD treated as a family medicine practitioner in Saint Paul, MN during 2023 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 96
hospital care 57
inpatient care 57

2023 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD.

Gender
Male 54
Female 32
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 63
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 0
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 48

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD in 2023

Hypertension 73
High Cholesterol 55
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 28
Depression 64
Chronic Kidney Disease 24
Asthma 17
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 23
Heart Failure 22
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 23
Diabetes 30
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

2024 Medicare Procedure Volume

The top procedures that Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD treated as a family medicine practitioner in Saint Paul, MN during 2024 were hospital care and inpatient care.

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD for Medicare patients.

doctor visit 73
hospital care 32
inpatient care 32

2024 Medicare Patient Data

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD.

Gender
Male 38
Female 29
Ethnicity
Non-Hispanic White 50
Black 0
Hispanic 0
Asian 0
Other 0
Native American 0
Age
From 65 to 74 0
From 75 to 84 0
85 and over 0
Less than 65 38

Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD in 2024

Hypertension 70
High Cholesterol 46
Stroke 0
Ischemic Heart Disease 31
Depression 70
Chronic Kidney Disease 33
Asthma 0
Osteoperosis 0
Atrial Fibrilation 21
Heart Failure 19
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 31
Diabetes 36
Dementia 0
Cancer 0

Medicare Procedure and Patient Information

Average Medicare Procedure Volume From 2012 - 2024

Volume of procedures performed by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD for Medicare patients.

The highest averages for the top procedures that Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD treated as a family medicine practitioner in Saint Paul, MN were hospital care, inpatient care, blood draw and preventive care.

blood draw 48
diabetes management 21
doctor visit 109
hospital care 150
inpatient care 145
lab tests 21
outpatient care 24
preventive care 24
vaccines 14

Average Medicare Patient Data From 2012 - 2024

Information about Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD.

Gender
Male 67
Female 54
Ethnicity
Black / African American 10
Asian / Pacific Islander 0
Non-Hispanic White 93
Hispanic 0
Native American / Alaskan Native 0
Other 0
Age
75 to 84 17
85 and over 16
Less than 65 41
65 to 74 28

Average of Total of Conditions of Medicare patients treated by Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD From 2012 - 2024

The highest averages of the most common conditions of Medicare patients that Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD treated were hypertension, depression, high cholesterol and chronic kidney disease.

Hypertension 58
High Cholesterol 41
Stroke 3
Ischemic Heart Disease 28
Depression 42
Chronic Kidney Disease 34
Asthma 9
Osteoporosis 4
Heart Failure 21
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 15
Diabetes 27
Atrial Fibrillation 15
Cancer 4
Dementia 10

Education & Training

Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD graduated from Indiana University School of Medicine in 1998. He completed residency at Hennepin County Medical Center. He is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and has a state license in Minnesota.

Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine (1998)

Residency: Hennepin County Medical Center (2003)

Board Certification: American Board of Family Medicine

Licensed In: Minnesota

Ratings & Reviews

Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD has an exceptional overall rating with an average of 4.73 out of 5 stars based on 33 ratings. We collect ratings and reviews of Dr. Christopher A. Darnell, MD from all over the web to help you find the right in Saint Paul, MN. 

4.73
Overall Rating
Leave a Review

Biography

Dr. Christopher Darnell's medical specialty is family medicine and addiction medicine. Dr. Darnell is especially interested in depression, preventive care, and anxiety. He is rated highly by his patients. After attending Indiana University School of Medicine, he completed his residency training at Hennepin County Medical Center. He has received the distinction of Minnesota Monthly Top Doctors. He is conversant in French. Dr. Darnell is affiliated with Regions Hospital. He has an open panel in Saint Paul, MN according to HealthPartners.

Other Providers in Saint Paul, MN