Publication: Use of antidepressants in the treatment of depression in Asia: Guidelines, clinical evidence, and experience revisited
Issued Date
2013-12-01
Resource Type
ISSN
17585872
17585864
17585864
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-84886855857
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Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Asia-Pacific Psychiatry. Vol.5, No.4 (2013), 219-230
Suggested Citation
Tamás Treuer, Chia Yih Liu, Gerardo Salazar, Ronnachai Kongsakon, Fujun Jia, Hussain Habil, Min Soo Lee, Amanda Lowry, Héctor Dueñas Use of antidepressants in the treatment of depression in Asia: Guidelines, clinical evidence, and experience revisited. Asia-Pacific Psychiatry. Vol.5, No.4 (2013), 219-230. doi:10.1111/appy.12090 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/32067
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Title
Use of antidepressants in the treatment of depression in Asia: Guidelines, clinical evidence, and experience revisited
Abstract
Major depressive disorder is prevalent worldwide, and only about half of those affected will experience no further episodes or symptoms. Additionally, depressive symptoms can be challenging to identify, with many patients going undiagnosed despite a wide variety of available treatment options. Antidepressants are the cornerstone of depression treatment; however, a large number of factors must be considered in selecting the treatment best suited to the individual. To help support physicians in this process, international and national treatment guidelines have been developed. This review evaluates the current use of antidepressant treatment for major depressive disorder in six Asian countries (China, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand). No remarkable differences were noted between Asian and international treatment guidelines or among those from within Asia as these are adapted from western guidelines, although there were some local variations. Importantly, a shortage of evidence-based information at a country level is the primary problem in developing guidelines appropriate for Asia, so most of the guidelines are consensus opinions derived from western research data utilized in western guidelines. Treatment guidelines need to evolve from being consensus based to evidence based when evidence is available, taking into consideration cost/effectiveness or cost/benefit with an evidence-based approach that more accurately reflects clinical experience as well as the attributes of each antidepressant. In everyday practice, physicians must tailor their treatment to the patient's clinical needs while considering associated external factors; better tools are needed to help them reach the best possible prescribing decisions which are of maximum benefit to patients. © 2013 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.