Pharmacological management of depressive disorders

Abstract

This article outlines current guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of depression, with an update based on recently published information. For the acute treatment of moderate to severe depression in the absence of specific factors, the recommendation is treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or mirtazapine. Recommendations for next-step treatment for patients with an inadequate response include increasing the dose, switching to another antidepressant, augmentation with another agent or using a combination of antidepressants. Recommendations for the treatment of depression in older adults are included. The options for non-pharmacological treatments are briefly explored in regard to symptom severity and other clinical features, and a list of non-pharmacological treatment options is provided.