Depression Antidepressant

For moderate-to-severe depression, antidepressants, with or without combined psychotherapy, must be considered. When depression is so severe that hospitalization is warranted or psychotic or catatonic features are present, psychotherapy should be withheld temporarily and medication (or ECT) is required. 

The most common mood disorders are major depression (unipolar depression) and manic-depressive illness (bipolar disorder). Major depression is a common disorder that continues to result in considerable morbidity and mortality despite major advances in treatment. Approximately 1 in 10 Americans will be depressed during their lifetime. Of the 40,000 suicides occurring in the United States each year, 70% can be accounted for by depression. Antidepressants are now the mainstay of treatment for this potentially lethal disorder, with patients showing some response to treatment 65 to 80% of the time. 

References and further reading on depression, antidepressants and mood-brighteners ... 

SSRIs are effective in milder cases of the eating disorder bulimia nervosa, particularly fluoxetine (in higher doses than are required for depression). This effect is independent of that on depression (which may co-exist) and may therefore involve action on transmitter systems other than those involved in modulating depression. Antidepressants appear to be ineffective in anorexia nervosa. 

Chronic boredom emptiness irritability hypochrodriasis low energy chronic fatigue pessimism, negative thinking feelings of shame, humiliation Depression Antidepressants... 

For perimenopausal depression, antidepressants usually are dosed daily at standard dosages for major depression, although some women may respond to lower doses. Estradiol deficiency may decrease the activity of 5-HT and decrease the efficacy of antidepressants. Two open-label studies have reported that citalopram in doses of 20-60 mg/day was effective in treating depression in peri- and postmenopausal women and had augmenting effects in depressed subjects who were still symptomatic after treatment with transdermal estradiol (i.e., improved symptoms of anxiety and somatic complaints). " ... 

As discussed in the chapter on depression, antidepressants are used in the treatment of anxiety, particularly the ones known as the selective serotonin... 

For psychosis Antipsychotic drugs For depression Antidepressants For agitation/tension/anxiety Benzodiazepines... 

Mary faced one final obstacle in her efforts to lose weight and overcome depression—antidepressants. Unfortunately, medication intended to combat depression, while helpful in improving mood and energy, can also make it harder to lose weight. 

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