AIM: To review evidence supporting pharmacological treatments for treatment-resistant depression(TRD) and to discuss them according to personal clinical experience.METHODS: Original studies, clinical trials, systemati...AIM: To review evidence supporting pharmacological treatments for treatment-resistant depression(TRD) and to discuss them according to personal clinical experience.METHODS: Original studies, clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses addressing pharmacological treatment for TRD in adult patients published from 1990 to 2013 were identified by data base queries(Pub Med, Google Scholar e Quertle Searches) using terms: "treatment resistant depression", "treatment refractory depression", "partial response depression", "non responder depression", "optimization strategy", "switching strategy", "combination strategy", "augmentation strategy", selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors antidepressants(SSRI), tricyclic antidepressants(TCA), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors antidepressants, mirtazapine, mianserine, bupropione, monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressant(MAOI), lithium, thyroid hormones, second generation antipsychotics(SGA), dopamine agonists, lamotrigine, psychostimulants, dextromethorphan, dextrorphan, ketamine, omega-3 fatty acids, S-adenosil-L-metionine, methylfolat, pindolol, sex steroids, glucocorticoid agents. Other citations of interest were further identified from references reported in the accessed articles. Selected publications were grouped by treatment strategy:(1) switching from an ineffective antidepressant(AD) to a new AD from a similar or different class;(2) combining the current AD regimen with a second AD from a different class; and(3) augmenting the current AD regimen with a second agent not thought to be an antidepressant itself.RESULTS: Switching from a TCA to another TCA provides only a modest advantage(response rate 9%-27%), while switching from a SSRI to another SSRI is more advantageous(response rate up to 75%). Evidence supports the usefulness of switching from SSRI to venlafaxine(5 positive trials out 6), TCA(2 positive trials out 3), and MAOI(2 positive trials out 2) but not from SSRI to bupropione, duloxetine and mirtazapine. Three reviews demonstrated that 展开更多
文摘AIM: To review evidence supporting pharmacological treatments for treatment-resistant depression(TRD) and to discuss them according to personal clinical experience.METHODS: Original studies, clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses addressing pharmacological treatment for TRD in adult patients published from 1990 to 2013 were identified by data base queries(Pub Med, Google Scholar e Quertle Searches) using terms: "treatment resistant depression", "treatment refractory depression", "partial response depression", "non responder depression", "optimization strategy", "switching strategy", "combination strategy", "augmentation strategy", selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors antidepressants(SSRI), tricyclic antidepressants(TCA), serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors antidepressants, mirtazapine, mianserine, bupropione, monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressant(MAOI), lithium, thyroid hormones, second generation antipsychotics(SGA), dopamine agonists, lamotrigine, psychostimulants, dextromethorphan, dextrorphan, ketamine, omega-3 fatty acids, S-adenosil-L-metionine, methylfolat, pindolol, sex steroids, glucocorticoid agents. Other citations of interest were further identified from references reported in the accessed articles. Selected publications were grouped by treatment strategy:(1) switching from an ineffective antidepressant(AD) to a new AD from a similar or different class;(2) combining the current AD regimen with a second AD from a different class; and(3) augmenting the current AD regimen with a second agent not thought to be an antidepressant itself.RESULTS: Switching from a TCA to another TCA provides only a modest advantage(response rate 9%-27%), while switching from a SSRI to another SSRI is more advantageous(response rate up to 75%). Evidence supports the usefulness of switching from SSRI to venlafaxine(5 positive trials out 6), TCA(2 positive trials out 3), and MAOI(2 positive trials out 2) but not from SSRI to bupropione, duloxetine and mirtazapine. Three reviews demonstrated that
