This presentation will explore the current diagnosis and treatment for depression, utilizing insights from a recently published, comprehensive review.
Depression is diagnosed based on established diagnostic criteria. According to these criteria, individuals must exhibit five or more characteristic depressive symptoms, including depressed mood and diminished interest, lasting at least two weeks. Severity is assessed using rating scales that evaluate specific depressive symptoms. While there might be some concerns regarding these diagnostic criteria and rating scales, they are essential for accurately assessing patients.
Preventative measures range from universal to selective and indicated interventions. Treatment options encompass psychotherapy and antidepressant treatments for initial depressive episodes, and for recurrent or persistent depression, approaches include augmentation, combination treatments, and neuromodulation. Guided self-help has shown potential to be as effective as standard care. The term "difficult-to-treat depression" has recently been introduced, describing cases where depression continues to be burdensome despite standard treatment efforts. There is an increasing focus on emerging treatments, including neuromodulation, glutamatergic drugs, and mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy.