Depression. Pharmacotherapy

Basic principles of pharmacotherapy for depression Specific pharmacotherapy doubles the chances of recovery in 1 month Most anti-depressants take 3-4 weeks to exert significant therapeutic effects Should be taken for 6 months or equal to duration of previous episode [which ever greater] Prophylactic advised if >3 episodes in a year or have chronic major depressive […]

Etiology of depression Biological Factors- Neurotransmitter [ ↓ Levels of Serotonin & NE and dopamine in some cases] Hormonal Disturbances [ Elevated activity in Hypothalamic-pituitary axis, Hypothyroidism Neuroanatomical – ↓ activity in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and ↑ in amygdala [Limbic system] Genetic Factors- CERB 1 on Chromosome 2 [cAMP response element binding protein] Serotonin transporter