The Management of Treatment-Resistant Depression in the Medically Ill

Hepatitis C, interferon alfa, and depression

“…38,60 These agents appear to be safe and well tolerated in the patients with liver disease. 76,77 Some investigators advocate the use of activating antidepressants, such as fluoxetine, for their potential positive impact on the cognitive and behavioral slowing associated with IFN toxicity. 38 Sertraline is favored for its safety, easy dose titration, tolerability, and favorable pharmacokinetics in patients with advanced liver disease.…”

“…Although the current data are insufficient for formulating precise guidelines, an approach is suggested in Table 2. 11,38,60,76,79 Controlled trials are needed.…”

Diabetes mellitus and major depressive disorder: An overview of prevalence, complications, and treatment

“…Unfortunately, similar to the studies seeking to determine prevalence of depression in diabetes mellitus, treatment studies are confounded by uncontrolled or poorly controlled treatment groups, mixtures of Type I and Type II diabetics, and small numbers of patients enrolled in studies. Recent literature reviews examined the risks and benefits of treating diabetics with classes of antidepressants including tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [49][50][51].…”

“…Monoamine oxidase inhibitors should be avoided if possible because they (1) exaggerate the hypoglycemic response, (2) require stringent dietary modification, further complicating diabetic dietary requirements, and (3) are associated with weight gain [50][51][52][53][54].…”

Downregulation of the CCAAT-Enhancer Binding Protein β in ΔFosB Transgenic Mice and by Electroconvulsive Seizures

“…Electroconvulsive seizure (ECS) therapy is one of the most effective antidepressants and the treatment of choice for depressed patients who do not respond to chemical medications (Franco-Bronson, 1996;Stewart and Reid, 2000;Duman, 2002;Nestler et al, 2002). Although electroconvulsive therapy has been used for many years, the molecular mechanisms underlying the efficacy of this treatment remain largely unknown.…”