These antidepressants may be effective for treating depression in some patients, but the neurochemistry of depression remains poorly understood, and we’re still not entirely sure how these drugs alleviate depressive symptoms. The guidelines recommend that “clinicians select between either cognitive behavioral therapy or second-generation antidepressants” for treating patients with depression. The authors of these guidelines also raise an important point: Doctors commonly turn first to antidepressants when treating patients with depression, even though evidence suggests alternate therapies are just as effective. As the ACP guidelines recommend, providers should discuss “treatment effects, adverse effect profiles, cost, accessibility, and preferences with the patient” when treating depression. And adding more tests to doctors’ visits may ignore the central issue when treating depression: Do we have enough time to truly talk with our patients about their options?

Source: Washington Post November 25, 2017 13:52 UTC