The holidays can be a stressful time for your patients, and some may become depressed. Learn the latest treatment options for major depressive order with this continuing medical education (CME) supplement.
Statement of Needs and Purpose
Effective treatment with antidepressants is currently limited by factors that affect treatment compliance, including delay in onset of therapeutic effects and, often, intolerable side-effects. Recent data suggest that use of antidepressant combinations with different mechanisms of action may be a better first-line strategy prior to augmentation with other drug classes. The rationale for this approach is that combining multiple pharmacological actions affecting multiple monoamine targets produces greater efficacy. The latest data on multimodal therapies indicate shorter onset of therapeutic effects and improved tolerability. By modulating multiple receptors and neurotransmitter systems, it is hoped that these new agents may also treat some of the associated symptoms of major depressive disorder, such as anxiety and cognitive dysfunction.
CME Objectives
- Recognize the complexity and persistence of the symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), particularly the significance of residual symptoms
- Apply the knowledge surrounding neurotransmitter modulation into the selection of treatment options
- Examine the specific factors that contribute to patient adherence on MDD, particularly the role of tolerability
- Evaluate current and emerging strategies for MDD to individualize care for patients
Go here to read the CME supplement on major depressive disorder.
Go here for links to multiple articles on depression.
