Doctors Define Treatment-Resistant Depression After 2 Failed Antidepressants
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 20
Doctors Define Treatment-Resistant Depression After 2 Failed Antidepressants
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 20
Summary
Treatment-resistant depression is commonly defined as failing to achieve at least 50% improvement after trying two antidepressants in succession.
Doctors say each drug should generally be taken for 4 to 6 weeks before judging whether the treatment has worked.
Experts also stress the condition has no single universally accepted definition and can vary in degree from patient to patient.
Despite the label, clinicians say treatment-resistant depression can still improve—or even be cured—through other therapies, often used in combination.