Abstract
Depression is a very prevalent disorder in general population characterized by recurrence and chronicity. The longitudinal studies conducted in the last 30 years described a picture consistent with a long-term illness requiring a life-long maintenance treatment. This paper is a review of the literature on clinical studies about antidepressant treatment, involving the 3 distinct treatment phases: acute, continuation, and maintenance or prophylaxis. The acute phase involves stabilization of acute symptoms and usually lasts 2 to 3 months. The purpose of the continuation phase is to prevent a relapse, and involves continuing medication for an additional 3 or 4 months. The discussed studies underline that an adequate duration of antidepressant therapy is correlated with improvement in symptomatology, the reduction of disabilities, the restoration of functioning and working performance and the prevention of relapse. This results in a substantial improvement in the patient's quality of life and in the achievement of considerable savings in the costs of the disorder. Effective clinical management is often a life-long task. In patients at higher risk for recurrences, prophylactic therapy is recommended, lasting for at least several years.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 89-98 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Minerva Psichiatrica |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2005 |
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Keywords
- Antidepressive agents
- Depressive disorder
- Prevention of relapse
- Treatment phases
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychiatry and Mental health
Cite this
Acute, continuation and maintenance phases of antidepressant treatment. / Mauri, M. C.; Volonteri, L. S.; Colasanti, A.; Panza, G.
In: Minerva Psichiatrica, Vol. 46, No. 2, 06.2005, p. 89-98.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Acute, continuation and maintenance phases of antidepressant treatment
AU - Mauri, M. C.
AU - Volonteri, L. S.
AU - Colasanti, A.
AU - Panza, G.
PY - 2005/6
Y1 - 2005/6
N2 - Depression is a very prevalent disorder in general population characterized by recurrence and chronicity. The longitudinal studies conducted in the last 30 years described a picture consistent with a long-term illness requiring a life-long maintenance treatment. This paper is a review of the literature on clinical studies about antidepressant treatment, involving the 3 distinct treatment phases: acute, continuation, and maintenance or prophylaxis. The acute phase involves stabilization of acute symptoms and usually lasts 2 to 3 months. The purpose of the continuation phase is to prevent a relapse, and involves continuing medication for an additional 3 or 4 months. The discussed studies underline that an adequate duration of antidepressant therapy is correlated with improvement in symptomatology, the reduction of disabilities, the restoration of functioning and working performance and the prevention of relapse. This results in a substantial improvement in the patient's quality of life and in the achievement of considerable savings in the costs of the disorder. Effective clinical management is often a life-long task. In patients at higher risk for recurrences, prophylactic therapy is recommended, lasting for at least several years.
AB - Depression is a very prevalent disorder in general population characterized by recurrence and chronicity. The longitudinal studies conducted in the last 30 years described a picture consistent with a long-term illness requiring a life-long maintenance treatment. This paper is a review of the literature on clinical studies about antidepressant treatment, involving the 3 distinct treatment phases: acute, continuation, and maintenance or prophylaxis. The acute phase involves stabilization of acute symptoms and usually lasts 2 to 3 months. The purpose of the continuation phase is to prevent a relapse, and involves continuing medication for an additional 3 or 4 months. The discussed studies underline that an adequate duration of antidepressant therapy is correlated with improvement in symptomatology, the reduction of disabilities, the restoration of functioning and working performance and the prevention of relapse. This results in a substantial improvement in the patient's quality of life and in the achievement of considerable savings in the costs of the disorder. Effective clinical management is often a life-long task. In patients at higher risk for recurrences, prophylactic therapy is recommended, lasting for at least several years.
KW - Antidepressive agents
KW - Depressive disorder
KW - Prevention of relapse
KW - Treatment phases
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M3 - Article
VL - 46
SP - 89
EP - 98
JO - Minerva Psichiatrica e Psicologica
JF - Minerva Psichiatrica e Psicologica
SN - 0391-1772
IS - 2
ER -