[Combination treatment of depression].
Severe depression is a common diagnosis and a number of studies  have demonstrated the superiority of antidepressants to placebos.  More than half of the patients remain depressed despite initial  treatment. If reasons like incorrect diagnosis and non-optimal choice  of drug or doses are excluded, combination therapy may be considered. Augmentation  of antidepressants with lithium or the thyroid hormone T3 has documented  effectiveness, mainly with tricyclic antidepressants, but is not  frequently used. Less documentation exists for a combination of two  antidepressant drugs, but their use is relatively common.
Senter for psykofarmakologi, Diakonhjemmet Sykehus, Norway. gudrun.hoiseth@diakonsyk.no
Gudrun
G
Høiseth
Dag Kristen
DK
Solberg
Helge
H
Refsum
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D057915:Drug Substitution; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors