title: Pharmacological treatment of unipolar depressive disorders: summary of WFSBP guidelines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a severe mood disorder affecting individuals of all ages and is characterised by single or recurrent major depressive episodes. Key elements of acute and maintenance treatment of MDD include pharmacotherapy, and psychological approaches such as psychoeducation and adherence monitoring.
  
  
  METHODS
  This summary of the 'Practice guidelines for the biological treatment of unipolar depressive disorders' comprises acute, continuation and maintenance treatment developed by an international Task Force of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP), and focuses on pharmacological treatment options.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A variety of different antidepressants are available for the effective acute and prophylactic treatment of depressed patients. Randomised placebo-controlled efficacy studies indicate that all major classes of antidepressants are effective in acute treatment but also in preventing recurrence of depression showing about a two-fold higher relapse rate with placebo treatment. Evidence suggests that the 'newer' antidepressants have superior long-term effectiveness due to better tolerability and safety profile compared to traditional antidepressants, e.g., the tricyclic antidepressants (TCA).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite progress in the availability of different treatment options there is still a substantial proportion of patients who do not achieve full remission. Several add-on pharmacological treatment options are among the best-evidenced strategies for refractory depressed patients.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus , Technische Universität Dresden , Dresden , Germany.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus , Technische Universität Dresden , Dresden , Germany.
authors.forename: Emanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Severus
authors.affiliation: b Department of Psychiatry , Ludwig-Maximilians-University , Munich , Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Jürgen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Möller
authors.affiliation: c Department of Psychological Medicine , Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London , London , UK.
authors.forename: Allan H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents
keywords: Primary care; guidelines; major depressive disorder; pharmacotherapy