Citation

Burrows GD, Norman TR, Judd FK. Curr. Ther. Res. Clin. Exp. 1993; 54(6): 832-837.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Excerpta Medica)

DOI

10.1016/S0011-393X(05)80714-3

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Evidence suggests that depression is a chronic and recurrent illness rather than a limited or acute condition. Recommendations issued by the World Health Organization Mental Health Collaborating Centres in 1989 called for the continuation of antidepressant therapy for up to 6 months. Many depressed patients require treatment for as long as 2 years or more. The potential complications of antidepressant therapy are of greater concern during long-term prophylactic treatment than during the acute management of depressive episodes. Patient noncompliance, pharmacologic side effects, drug interactions, and drug overdose are among the factors that can interfere with the course of chronic therapy. Discontinuation of antidepressant medication after long-term treatment should be slow, gradual, and individualized, regardless of the pharmacologic agent administered. © 1993 Excerpta Medica, Inc. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

human; suicide; psychotherapy; depression; lithium; conference paper; antidepressant agent; doxepin; amitriptyline; clomipramine; desipramine; imipramine; monoamine oxidase inhibitor; nortriptyline; protriptyline; tricyclic antidepressant agent; trimipramine; electroconvulsive therapy; dosulepin; mianserin; tranylcypromine; cardiotoxicity; fatality; trazodone; long term care; world health organization; maprotiline; unindexed drug; side effect; dibenzepin; viloxazine; phenelzine; opipramol; isocarboxazid; iprindole; iproniazid; nomifensine