title: International consensus statement on major depressive disorder.
abstract: Because considerable variability exists between countries in the management of major depressive disorder, experts in psychiatry gathered for the International Consensus Group on Depression to outline a universal treatment algorithm for this illness. The experts decided to adapt the existing treatment algorithm developed in Japan and discuss strategies for clinical issues that have been problematic in some countries. Specific recommendations were made by the consensus group for screening for, diagnosing, and treating depression, which include periodically screening all patients for depression, completing a differential diagnosis of depression, referring to a psychiatric specialist if needed, establishing a therapeutic alliance with patients and their families, choosing and optimizing the dose of appropriate antidepressants based on individual patient's needs, and incorporating nonpharmacologic treatment strategies as necessary.
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychopharmacology Unit, Division of Experimental Medicine, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom. d.nutt@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Nutt
authors.forename: Jonathan R T
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Davidson
authors.forename: Alan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Gelenberg
authors.forename: Teruhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Higuchi
authors.forename: Shigenobu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanba
authors.forename: Oğuz
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karamustafalioğlu
authors.forename: George I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Papakostas
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Terao
authors.forename: Mingyuan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008403:Mass Screening; D055118:Medication Adherence; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011613:Psychotherapy; D055502:Secondary Prevention
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents