title: Pharmacotherapy for chronic depression.
abstract: There is now strong evidence from controlled studies that antidepressant medication, including SSRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, and MAOIs, is effective in treating both the depressive symptomatology and social dysfunction of many patients with chronic depression. Encouraging data from a controlled long-term trial in progress indicate that desipramine is effective in sustaining recovery during maintenance treatment. Future studies are needed to better understand the optimal duration of treatment, the efficacy of augmentation strategies, and the efficacy of combined treatment with psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy in chronic depression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Cornell University Medical College, Payne Whitney Clinic, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York, USA.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kocsis
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011613:Psychotherapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents