The pharmacological management of depression

Depressive disorders are common, recurrent, and chronic, and require treatment A review of the symptom picture and current drug targets demonstrates the need for accument of depression severity, including suicidaliltial focus of treatment is rapid resolution of: during an acute phase, followed by continuation. Maintenance treatment is indicated if the risk of recurrence is high. The range of available medications is considerable and the benefit/risk ratio is acceptable. Depression is diagnosable across the life span and treatable at every age (although recent disagreement has arisen with regard to young patients). Comorbidity, both psychiatric and medical, need to be assessed, as does the possible presence of two subtypes of depression (psychotic and bipolar) often requiring different interventions. It is expected that the next generation of antidepressants would be associated with more specific disease and outcome biomarkers.