title: Practical guidance for prescribing trazodone extended-release in major depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment of major depressive disorder aims for symptom remission and recovery of function, and involves a multifaceted approach including drug therapy, evidence-based psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy, according to disease severity. Antidepressant monotherapy is generally the first-line approach for moderate to severe major depressive disorder (with or without psychotherapy). In some severe cases, patients may require the addition of antipsychotic therapy, electroconvulsive therapy, or antidepressant combination therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article examines the use of trazodone in major depressive disorder, with a focus on practical guidance regarding the use of trazodone extended-release (Contramid(®)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The extended-release once-a-day formulation of trazodone may provide a combination of efficacy and improved tolerability over other antidepressants and over the conventional immediate-release formulation.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Molecular Medicine , University of Siena School of Medicine , Siena , Italy.
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goracci
authors.affiliation: b Private practice , Siena , Italy.
authors.forename: Rocco N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Forgione
authors.affiliation: c Department of Psychiatry , Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust , Oxford , UK.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Giorgi
authors.affiliation: d Department of Medical , Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena , Siena , Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coluccia
authors.affiliation: a Department of Molecular Medicine , University of Siena School of Medicine , Siena , Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuomo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Molecular Medicine , University of Siena School of Medicine , Siena , Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fagiolini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014196:Trazodone / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D014196:Trazodone
keywords: Major depressive disorder; extended-release; trazodone; treatment