Patterns of antidepressant prescriptions : ii continuation phase treatments

In an exercise carried out to ascertain adequacy of antidepressant treatment, seventy case notes of patients of depression on continuation treatment with antidepressants were scanned. Antidepressants had been used universally. TCAs were the most commonly used drugs, although Fluoxetine had also been used quite frequently. Continuation treatment was found to be deficient in over a third (n=24; 34 %) of the cases, on either of the two parameters i. e. dose of drugs or duration of treatment. The outcome was poorer in those treated inadequately. The reasons for this 'treatment gap' need to be explored. Similar studies need to be conducted in other settings. Education of all clinicians about these central issues of antidepressant treatment is essential.