Management of Depression in Adults: A Review

Importance: Approximately 9% of US adults experience major depression each year, with a lifetime prevalence of approximately 17% for men and 30% for women.

Observations: Major depression is defined by depressed mood, loss of interest in activities, and associated psychological and somatic symptoms lasting at least 2 weeks. Evaluation should include structured assessment of severity as well as risk of self-harm, suspected bipolar disorder, psychotic symptoms, substance use, and co-occurring anxiety disorder. First-line treatments include specific psychotherapies and antidepressant medications. A network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials reported cognitive therapy, behavioral activation, problem-solving therapy, interpersonal therapy, brief psychodynamic therapy, and mindfulness-based psychotherapy all had at least medium-sized effects in symptom improvement over usual care without psychotherapy (standardized mean difference [SMD] ranging from 0.50 [95% CI, 0.20-0.81] to 0.73 [95% CI, 0.52-0.95]). A network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials reported 21 antidepressant medications all had small- to medium-sized effects in symptom improvement over placebo (SMD ranging from 0.23 [95% CI, 0.19-0.28] for fluoxetine to 0.48 [95% CI, 0.41-0.55] for amitriptyline). Psychotherapy combined with antidepressant medication may be preferred, especially for more severe or chronic depression. A network meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials reported greater symptom improvement with combined treatment than with psychotherapy alone (SMD, 0.30 [95% CI, 0.14-0.45]) or medication alone (SMD, 0.33 [95% CI, 0.20-0.47]). When initial antidepressant medication is not effective, second-line medication treatment includes changing antidepressant medication, adding a second antidepressant, or augmenting with a nonantidepressant medication, which have approximately equal likelihood of success based on a network meta-analysis. Collaborative care programs, including systematic follow-up and outcome assessment, improve treatment effectiveness, with 1 meta-analysis reporting significantly greater symptom improvement compared with usual care (SMD, 0.42 [95% CI, 0.23-0.61]).

Conclusions and relevance: Effective first-line depression treatments include specific forms of psychotherapy and more than 20 antidepressant medications. Close monitoring significantly improves the likelihood of treatment success.

Author/s:

Gregory E Simon, Nathalie Moise, David C Mohr

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Erin Blanchette — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 02:18:46 +0000

Date Added:

March 6, 2024

Journal/Publication:

JAMA

Publisher:

American Medical Association

Publication Date:

February 16, 2024

URL:

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Type:

Patient Education Materials

Format:

Article

DOI (1):

10.1001/jama.2023.24844

Keywords

PMID (1):

38363576

MeSH

Information for patients on bipolar disorder(s). James W. Mold, MD, MPH

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Bipolar disorder is characterized by mood swings ranging from depressive lows to manic highs.

Bipolar disorder affects about 8 million people in the US and an estimated 40 million individuals worldwide. Symptoms of bipolar disorder typically start between age 15 to 25 years, often with an initial episode of depression.

Author/s:

Rebecca Voelker