Treatment of Mood Disorders: Summary
As knowledge expands about the influence of psychiatric illness on the medically ill, more is learned about specific treatment of mood disorders, which affects prognosis, morbidity, and mortality. SSRIs are clearly the first choice of treatment of depression in the medically ill. Generally, their side-effect profile and minimal drug interactions are much less complicated than those with older agents such as the TCAs and the MAOIs. The addition of psychostimulants as either single therapy or augmentation for patients with treatment-resistant disease is a logical and effective modality. Many patients with severe or medication-refractory depression can be candidates for ECT. Psychotherapy has proven effective in many situations in the medically ill psychiatric patient, elevating mood, decreasing stress, and improving outcomes.