Treatment of drug-resistant depression
Taiminen, T.
Duodecim; Laaketieteellinen Aikakauskirja 129(20): 2149-2156
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 0012-7183 PMID: 24340715 Document Number: 671229
Depression is drug-resistant, if the severity of the symptoms has not decreased to half of the starting situation, despite appropriately conducted treatment with two antidepressants belonging to two different pharmacological categories. The incidence of drug-resistant depression in Finland is approximately 1%, and it is being treated too passively, whereby the number of disability pensions is rising. Current treatments include combinations of antidepressants, additional drugs for depression, psychotherapy, electrotherapy and serial magnetic stimulation. Ketamine infusions are also an effective, yet still experimental form of treatment.