Depression – Related resources

Cochrane reviews

• Acupuncture appears to have no clear benefit in the treatment of depression .
• The combination of an antidepressant with an antipsychotic is probably not more effective than an antidepressant alone in the treatment of psychotic depression, but the combination therapy may be more effective than an antipsychotic alone .
• Family therapy may have limited effect on decreasing depression, and on increasing family functioning compared to no treatment or waiting list condition .
• Music therapy added to standard care seems to be associated with improvements in mood in depressive patients, but the evidence is insufficient .
• There is no evidence of an effect of medication alone, enhanced primary care, psychological interventions or the combination of those with medication on sickness absence of depressed workers .
• Psychostimulants (PS) seem to reduce symptoms of depression in the short-term, but the evidence is insufficient .
• Marital therapy may be as effective as individual psychotherapy or drug therapy in the treatment of depression, and it may improve the relations in distressed couples .
• Exercise may improve the symptoms of depression .
• Collaborative care appears to associate with significant improvement in depression and anxiety outcomes compared with usual care, representing a useful addition to clinical pathways for adult patients with depression and anxiety .
• For patients suffering from non-seasonal depression, light therapy may have limited antidepressive efficacy, especially when administered during the first week of treatment. Hypomania as a potential adverse effect needs to be considered .
• Behavioural and other psychological therapies might possibly be equally effective in depression, although the evidence is insufficient.

Other evidence summaries

• Psychological treatments are effective for the symptoms of mild to moderate depression and may prevent the onset of major depression .

• Problem-solving therapy (PST) may be effective in the treatment of depression in adults. The effect seems to be enhanced when antidepressants are combined in the treatment .

Literature

• Timonen M, Liukkonen T. Management of depression in adults. BMJ 2008 Feb 23;336(7641):435-9.
• Lisanby SH. Electroconvulsive therapy for depression. N Engl J Med 2007 Nov 8;357(19):1939-45.