Inappropriate prescriptions of antidepressant drugs in patients with subthreshold to mild depression: time for the evidence to become practice.

Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Psychotherapy, Institute of Psychology, University of Freiburg, Germany. baumeister@psychologie.uni-freiburg.de

Journal of affective disorders 2012 Aug

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Recent studies indicate that antidepressant drugs are largely ineffective in patients with subthreshold to mild depression when compared to placebo. In spite of this evidence, researchers continue to judge the prescription of antidepressant drugs to patients with subthreshold to mild depression as an adequate treatment, which in turn serves to further reinforce the undifferentiated treatment strategy adopted by clinicians. The present narrative review critically reflects on current research practice and highlights the need for a more differentiated, evidence-based clinical and research practice. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Citation

Harald Baumeister. Inappropriate prescriptions of antidepressant drugs in patients with subthreshold to mild depression: time for the evidence to become practice. Journal of affective disorders. 2012 Aug;139(3):240-3