title: Evidence-based guidelines for treating depressive disorders with antidepressants: a revision of the 2000 British Association for Psychopharmacology guidelines.
abstract: A revision of the 2000 British Association for Psychopharmacology evidence-based guidelines for treating depressive disorders with antidepressants was undertaken to incorporate new evidence and to update the recommendations where appropriate. A consensus meeting involving experts in depressive disorders and their management was held in May 2006. Key areas in treating depression were reviewed, and the strength of evidence and clinical implications were considered. The guidelines were drawn up after extensive feedback from participants and interested parties. A literature review is provided, which identifies the quality of evidence to inform the recommendations, the strength of which are based on the level of evidence. These guidelines cover the nature and detection of depressive disorders, acute treatment with antidepressant drugs, choice of drug versus alternative treatment, practical issues in prescribing and management, next-step treatment, relapse prevention, treatment of relapse, and stopping treatment.
authors.affiliation: Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant Psychiatrist, Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit, University of Manchester, UK. ian.anderson@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: I N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Ferrier
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Baldwin
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cowen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: McAllister-Williams
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Peveler
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tylee
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D011613:Psychotherapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors