Can recovery from depression be achieved?
by
Shelton RC, Tomarken AJ.
Psychiatr Serv 2001 Nov; 52(11):1469-78

ABSTRACT

Even though a variety of treatments are available for depression, many patients experience an incomplete response, resulting in chronic functional impairment. The authors present a therapeutic heuristic that derives, in part, from a body of research that suggests that symptoms of mood disorders can be separated into three distinct components: somatic anxiety, which is most prominent in anxiety disorders, such as panic; anhedonia or low positive affect, which is most specific to depression; and general distress, which is present with both anxiety and depressive disorders. General distress and somatic anxiety appear to be significantly modulated by serotonin, and serotonergic drugs may exert their effects most significantly on these symptoms. On the other hand, positive affect, the dimension of reward-oriented motivation and enjoyment, appears to be most dependent on dopamine and, indirectly, norepinephrine. Thus a theoretical heuristic can be derived on the basis of the predominance of residual symptoms. Serotonergic agents would be chosen for monotherapy or augmentation for symptoms of distress. Alternatively, catecholaminergic drugs would be the first choice for anhedonia and decreased motivation.

TCAs
SSRIs
RIMAs
Options
Recovery
Bupropion
Mechanisms
Nefazodone
Mirtazapine
Venlafaxine
Antidepressants
Major depression
Anti-anxiety drugs
Atypical depression
Retarded depression
New antidepressants
Stressed tree shrews
Personal inferiority and anxiety
Atypical depression: symptoms
Physical symptoms of depression
Melancholic depression in toddlers
The monoamine theory of depression
Noradrenergic plus serotonergic antidepressants
An historical analysis of the creation of the concept of an antidepressant

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