title: Clinical features of treatment-resistant depression.
abstract: As many as 30% to 40% of patients with major depressive disorder are unresponsive to a trial of antidepressant medication. Many patients labeled with treatment-resistant depression actually have pseudoresistance, in that they have been inadequately treated or are misdiagnosed. Others may have unrecognized comorbid psychiatric or general medical conditions that contribute to treatment resistance. Variables such as gender, family history, age at onset, severity, and chronicity have also been evaluated as possible risk factors for treatment-resistant depression. This article reviews the current literature regarding the clinical characteristics of treatment-resistant depression, with particular attention to the relevance of these factors for clinical decision making.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298-0253, USA.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kornstein
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000592:standards; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016312:Treatment Refusal
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents