Indications for Use of Antidepressant and Antimanic Medica

Antidepressant and Antimanic Medications: Indications for Use of Antidepressant and Antimanic Medications

Antidepressant Medications
Treatment should follow careful physical and psychological assessment and diagnosis. In most circumstances this process can be performed in one visit, especially if medically relevant history and psychiatric and substance abuse history are available. This process has recently been reviewed. Once a diagnosis of MDE has been made, antidepressant medications are usually indicated. Given the known efficacy and safety of these drugs, in most cases treatment should then be started, although the choice of agent may be significantly affected by presenting symptoms and concurrent psychiatric, medical, or substance abuse diagnoses.

Medication should be initiated as soon as possible for treatment of MDE in situations when improvement is unlikely without medication treatment, when possible harmful consequences may arise if the depression is untreated (e.g., loss of job or risk of suicide), or when relapse and recurrence are highly likely (Table 39-3). Other situations in which medication treatment should be initiated include when treating patients with a strong family history of mood disorders or patients with MDE with atypical features.

Antidepressant and Antimanic Medications Introduction Diagnostic Indications and Contraindications

• Indications for Use of Antidepressant and Antimanic Medications
• Contraindications to Use of Antidepressant and Antimanic Medications
• General Treatment Guidelines Antidepressant Medications: Pharmacological Properties and Evidence for Acute-Phase Efficacy