Pharmacological management of depressive disorders

This article outlines current guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of depression, with an update based on recently published information. For acute treatment of moderate to severe depression in the absence of specific factors, the recommendation is treatment with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or mirtazapine. Recommendations for next-step treatment for patients with an inadequate response include increasing the dose, switching to another antidepressant, augmentation with another agent or using a combination of antidepressants.