Refractory depression: a review with particular reference to the use of lithium augmentation. 1995

C L Katona
Department of Psychiatry, University College London Medical School, UK.

The literature on pharmacological treatments of refractory depression is reviewed, with particular reference to problems in definition of treatment resistance, criteria for adequacy of treatment and the lack of controlled trial evidence for many putative treatment approaches. The results of a placebo-controlled trial of lithium augmentation of patients failing to respond to fluoxetine or lofepramine are presented. The data from this trial (particularly when analysed in combination with that in earlier, smaller published studies) establish the efficacy of lithium augmentation but illustrate the difficulty of achieving adequate plasma lithium levels and the high rate of partial response to continued antidepressant alone.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008094 Lithium An element in the alkali metals family. It has the atomic symbol Li, atomic number 3, and atomic weight [6.938; 6.997]. Salts of lithium are used in treating BIPOLAR DISORDER. Lithium-7,Lithium 7
D008996 Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors A chemically heterogeneous group of drugs that have in common the ability to block oxidative deamination of naturally occurring monoamines. (From Gilman, et al., Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed, p414) MAO Inhibitor,MAO Inhibitors,Reversible Inhibitors of Monoamine Oxidase,Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor,RIMA (Reversible Inhibitor of Monoamine Oxidase A),Reversible Inhibitor of Monoamine Oxidase,Inhibitor, MAO,Inhibitor, Monoamine Oxidase,Inhibitors, MAO,Inhibitors, Monoamine Oxidase
D003866 Depressive Disorder An affective disorder manifested by either a dysphoric mood or loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities. The mood disturbance is prominent and relatively persistent. Depression, Endogenous,Depression, Neurotic,Depression, Unipolar,Depressive Syndrome,Melancholia,Neurosis, Depressive,Unipolar Depression,Depressions, Endogenous,Depressions, Neurotic,Depressions, Unipolar,Depressive Disorders,Depressive Neuroses,Depressive Neurosis,Depressive Syndromes,Disorder, Depressive,Disorders, Depressive,Endogenous Depression,Endogenous Depressions,Melancholias,Neuroses, Depressive,Neurotic Depression,Neurotic Depressions,Syndrome, Depressive,Syndromes, Depressive,Unipolar Depressions
D005473 Fluoxetine The first highly specific serotonin uptake inhibitor. It is used as an antidepressant and often has a more acceptable side-effects profile than traditional antidepressants. Fluoxetin,Fluoxetine Hydrochloride,Lilly-110140,N-Methyl-gamma-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy)benzenepropanamine,Prozac,Sarafem,Lilly 110140,Lilly110140
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D017367 Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Compounds that specifically inhibit the reuptake of serotonin in the brain. 5-HT Uptake Inhibitor,5-HT Uptake Inhibitors,5-Hydroxytryptamine Uptake Inhibitor,5-Hydroxytryptamine Uptake Inhibitors,SSRIs,Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor,Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor,Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors,Serotonin Uptake Inhibitor,Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors,Inhibitors, 5-HT Uptake,Inhibitors, 5-Hydroxytryptamine Uptake,Inhibitors, Serotonin Reuptake,Inhibitors, Serotonin Uptake,Reuptake Inhibitors, Serotonin,Uptake Inhibitors, 5-HT,Uptake Inhibitors, 5-Hydroxytryptamine,Uptake Inhibitors, Serotonin,Inhibitor, 5-HT Uptake,Inhibitor, 5-Hydroxytryptamine Uptake,Inhibitor, Serotonin Reuptake,Inhibitor, Serotonin Uptake,Reuptake Inhibitor, Serotonin,Uptake Inhibitor, 5-HT,Uptake Inhibitor, 5-Hydroxytryptamine,Uptake Inhibitor, Serotonin

Related Publications

C L Katona
April 2001, Journal of clinical psychopharmacology,
C L Katona
November 1997, Journal of psychiatry & neuroscience : JPN,
C L Katona
November 1986, The American journal of psychiatry,
C L Katona
May 1995, Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry,
C L Katona
May 2003, The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science,
C L Katona
January 1998, The Journal of clinical psychiatry,
C L Katona
October 1990, Canadian journal of psychiatry. Revue canadienne de psychiatrie,
C L Katona
March 1986, The American journal of psychiatry,
C L Katona
June 2003, European archives of psychiatry and clinical neuroscience,
Copied contents to your clipboard!