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Long-term treatment of depression
1Academic Department of Psychiatry, St Mary's Hospital Medical School, London.
The British Journal of Psychiatry. Supplement
|December 1, 1994
Summary
Long-term depression treatment involves relapse and recurrence prevention. Both tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) demonstrate effectiveness in preventing future depressive episodes.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Long-term depression management includes relapse and recurrence prevention.
- Relapse prevention consolidates acute treatment response.
- Recurrence prevention minimizes new depressive episodes in recurrent depression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of antidepressants in long-term depression management.
- To assess the role of TCAs and SSRIs in preventing relapse and recurrence.
Main Methods:
- Review of studies on tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
- Analysis of treatment doses for acute treatment, relapse prevention, and recurrence prevention.
Main Results:
- TCAs may be effective in lower doses for relapse prevention.
- SSRIs are effective at minimum acute treatment doses or lower for relapse prevention.
- Imipramine is effective for recurrence prevention up to five years.
- Fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline are effective in reducing new depressive episodes.
Conclusions:
- Both TCAs and SSRIs are effective for long-term depression management.
- Specific TCAs and SSRIs show efficacy in preventing relapse and recurrence.
- Further research is needed for other TCAs' efficacy in recurrence prevention.