title: Four potential criteria for deciding when to use antidepressants or psychotherapy for unipolar depression: a literature review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the literature supporting four potential criteria for deciding whether to use psychotherapy or pharmacology when treating depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature review of the evidence from the last 10 years on presenting patient's demographics, aetiology, comorbidity, and genetic factors, as predictors of treatment outcome efficacy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Demographic information has little support as a potential criteria for decision-making; aetiology (melancholic vs. non-melancholic) has significant support; presence of personality disorder comorbidity is unproven as a criterion but may have some value; genetic predisposition has the strongest evidence supporting it as a criteria for treatment decision-making.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although some presenting cases will be easier to classify than others, there are substantial data supporting the screening of patients according to three of these criteria.
authors: Brain-Behaviour Research Group, University of New England, NSW, Australia. csharpley@onthenet.com.au
authors: Christopher F
authors: CF
authors: Sharpley
authors: Vicki
authors: V
authors: Bitsika
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D011613:Psychotherapy
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents