Abstract
New drugs are being developed for the management of depression in response to the growing awareness of the prevalence and disability associated with the disorder and the need for agents with improved side effect profiles. All antidepressants are equally effective for treating uncomplicated unipolar depression without psychotic features. For patients with atypical depression with prominent anxiety, agitation, sleep loss, and irritability, monoamine oxidase inhibitors are the first choice. Data are accumulating supporting the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in these depressive subtypes. Factors to consider when choosing an antidepressant include spectrum of adverse effects, long‐term tolerability dosing schedule, clinically significant drug interactions, underlying medical conditions, earlier response to therapy, and pharmacoeconomics. Based on these criteria, it is suggested that a trial with the SSRIs be attempted first. Venlafaxine and nefazodone are newer agents with mechanisms of action that have advantages over tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Choosing a drug that is effective, tolerable, and convenient will improve the likelihood of achieving and maintaining a full remission. It will also decrease the morbidity and mortality of this very treatable disease.
Reference201 articles.
1. Lifetime and 12-Month Prevalence of DSM-III-R Psychiatric Disorders in the United States
2. Long‐term treatment of depression;Kupfer DJ.;J Clin Psychiatry,1991
3. The economic burden of depression in 1990;Greenberg PE;J Clin Psychiatry,1993
4. Synaptic pharmacology of antidepressants: an update;Richelson E.;McLean Hosp J,1988
Cited by
2 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献