Treating antidepressant nonresponders with augmentation strategies: an overview.
This paper provides an overview of antidepressant nonresponse and the role of augmentation strategies in the management of treatment-resistant depression. When effective, the more widely used augmentation strategies, including lithium salts, thyroid hormones, pindolol, buspirone, and psychostimulants, share two important advantages when compared with "switching" strategies: avoidance of ill effects associated with discontinuing the initial antidepressant and rapidity of onset of action. Ideally, advances in the understanding of the neurobiology of mood disorders and mechanisms of antidepressant response will permit a more efficient and specific matching between patient, initial antidepressant, and subsequent strategy for enhancing response to treatment.
Thase
M E
ME
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, PA 15213, USA.
Howland
R H
RH
Friedman
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ES
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002065:Buspirone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010869:Pindolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D008094:Lithium; D010869:Pindolol; D002065:Buspirone