title: Background and rationale for the sequenced treatment alternatives to relieve depression (STAR*D) study.
abstract: Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) attempts to fill in major clinical information gaps and to evaluate the theoretical principles and clinical beliefs that currently guide pharmacotherapy of major depressive disorder. The study is conducted in representative participant groups and settings using clinical management tools that easily can be applied in daily practice. Outcomes include clinical outcomes and health care utilization and cost estimates. Research findings should be immediately applicable to, and easily implemented in, the daily primary and specialty care practices. This article provides the overall rationale for STAR*D and details the rationale for key design, measurement, and analytic features of the study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fava
authors.forename: A John
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.forename: Madhukar H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Nierenberg
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Thase
authors.forename: Harold A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Sackeim
authors.forename: Frederic M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Quitkin
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wisniewski
authors.forename: Philip W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Lavori
authors.forename: Jerrold F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kupfer
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents