Prescribing Pharmacotherapy for Major Depressive Disorder: How Does a Clinician Decide?

Abstract

Selection of treatment according to evidence-based
\nmedicine relies primarily on randomized controlled trials
\nand meta-analyses. However, this evidence applies to the
\n“average” patient and ignores the fact that customary
\nclinical taxonomy does not include patterns of symptoms,
\nseverity of illness, effects of comorbid conditions,
\ntiming of phenomena, rate of progression of illness, responses
\nto previous treatments, and other clinical distinctions
\nthat demarcate major prognostic and therapeutic
\ndifferences among patients who otherwise seem to be deceptively
\nsimilar since they share the same diagnosis [1].

Topics & Concepts