TY - JOUR
T1 - Timing of Adjunctive Therapy in the Treatment of Depression
T2 - A Chart Review
AU - Tarumi, R.
AU - Suzuki, T.
AU - Tani, H.
AU - Den, R.
AU - Sawada, N.
AU - Sakurai, H.
AU - Tsutsumi-Ozawa, C.
AU - Ohtani, A.
AU - Mimura, M.
AU - Uchida, H.
PY - 2014/10/16
Y1 - 2014/10/16
N2 - Introduction: The objective of this study was to examine the evolution of antidepressant switch and adjunctive therapy. Methods: This chart review was conducted at 6 primary psychiatric clinics or hospitals, in Tokyo, Japan. A chart review of longitudinal prescriptions was conducted regarding 633 outpatients with major depressive disorder for up to 2 years after their first visit. Patients who had already received antidepressants prior to the visit were excluded. Results: 22.6% (N=143) of the patients completed or continued the outpatient treatment over the 2 years while 27 (4.3%), 23 (3.6%), and 439 (69.4%) patients discontinued it due to hospitalization, referral to another clinic, and loss to follow-up, respectively. A total of 597 episodes of antidepressant treatment were identified. Among them, 482 episodes (80.7%) were associated with the suggested dose ranges while antidepressant drugs were under-dosed in 19.3% (N=115) of the episodes. 50 patients (7.9%) received adjunctive therapy; it was employed after a median of only one antidepressant had been tried. Conclusion: Psychiatrists may be hasty in prescribing an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of depression.
AB - Introduction: The objective of this study was to examine the evolution of antidepressant switch and adjunctive therapy. Methods: This chart review was conducted at 6 primary psychiatric clinics or hospitals, in Tokyo, Japan. A chart review of longitudinal prescriptions was conducted regarding 633 outpatients with major depressive disorder for up to 2 years after their first visit. Patients who had already received antidepressants prior to the visit were excluded. Results: 22.6% (N=143) of the patients completed or continued the outpatient treatment over the 2 years while 27 (4.3%), 23 (3.6%), and 439 (69.4%) patients discontinued it due to hospitalization, referral to another clinic, and loss to follow-up, respectively. A total of 597 episodes of antidepressant treatment were identified. Among them, 482 episodes (80.7%) were associated with the suggested dose ranges while antidepressant drugs were under-dosed in 19.3% (N=115) of the episodes. 50 patients (7.9%) received adjunctive therapy; it was employed after a median of only one antidepressant had been tried. Conclusion: Psychiatrists may be hasty in prescribing an adjunctive therapy in the treatment of depression.
KW - adjunctive therapy
KW - antidepressants
KW - depression
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U2 - 10.1055/s-0034-1387784
DO - 10.1055/s-0034-1387784
M3 - Review article
C2 - 25181576
AN - SCOPUS:84926358540
SN - 0176-3679
VL - 47
SP - 259
EP - 262
JO - Pharmakopsychiatrie und Neuropsychopharmakologie
JF - Pharmakopsychiatrie und Neuropsychopharmakologie
IS - 7
ER -