Review article
Optimal Therapy Selection in the Treatment of a Depressive Patient
Ivan Požgain
Abstract
Depression has become a global health issue and the leading cause of disability worldwide. Around half of the patients with depressive disorders remain undiagnosed and untreated and only 10% of patients are being treated accordingly. Depressive disorder treatment begins after a well conducted diagnosis, especially according to depression intensity (mild, moderate or severe) and comorbidities that influence the planned therapeutic strategy in great deal. There are various therapeutic options available. Among the biological methods of treatment antidepressants of various mechanisms of action and clinical effects represent the first line treatment, followed by other drugs used as augmentative strategies such as mood stabilizers, lithium, atypical antipsychotics and certain hormones. In severe, psychotic and therapeutically resistant depressive disorders ECT and other methods of brain structure stimulation are recommended. In the treatment of depressive disorder it is crucial to follow the basic guidelines on sufficient treatment duration with proper medication dosage, selection of antidepressants according to the safety profile and the clinical characteristics of the patient, combining the psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy regularly and including cognitive-behavioural or interpersonal psychotherapy and conducting quality evaluation regarding the symptomatic remission and the patients’quality of life.
Keywords
therapy; depression; treatment methods; antidepressants; psychopharmacotherapy; cognitive behavioural therapy; interpersonal psychotherapy
Hrčak ID:
189046
URI
Publication date:
8.11.2017.
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