title: Use of atypical antipsychotics for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder.
abstract: Despite the progressive increase in the number of pharmacologic agents with potential antidepressant activity, many patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD) continue to be symptomatic. Clearly, an urgent need exists to develop safer, better tolerated, and more effective treatments for MDD. Use of atypical antipsychotic agents as adjunctive treatment for treatment-resistant MDD (TRD) represents one such effort toward novel pharmacotherapy development. Atypical antipsychotic agents have been hypothesized to be beneficial in treating mood disorders, including TRD, as a result of their complex mechanisms of action. After an initial series of positive case reports, series, and small clinical trials, subsequent larger-scale projects have yielded conflicting results. However, more recently, larger-scale clinical trials have supported the effectiveness of at least some of these medications. This review summarizes the existing data regarding the effectiveness of these medications in treating TRD, including biochemical rationale and clinical data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 15 Parkman Street, WACC #812, Boston, MA 02114, USA. gpapakostas@partners.org
authors.forename: George I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Papakostas
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Shelton
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents