Although there are many approved antidepressant treatments for depression—including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors—about a third of patients do not respond to these medications demanding the continued efforts towards the development of novel and rapidly acting compounds, especially for patients with treatment-resistant depression. The current article reviews the efficacy of approved antidepressant therapies, and various experimental medication treatments for depression. Antidepressant efficacy: a review of current standards and challenges Data from STAR*D trial support the use of antidepressants in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), as there was a cumulative 67% response rate after all four steps of the study.
However, antidepressant monotherapy alone may not always be enough to treat depression. Quetiapine…
