WHICH ANTIDEPRESSANT FOR WHICH DEPRESSION

Treatment for depression has improved and several well tolerated antid epressants have been developed. The diagnosis is less important for th e choice of treatment than the severity of the symptoms. Antidepressan ts are indicated if a depression is of at least moderate severity. For many years attempt has been made to find specific criteria for the ch oice of the ''right'' antidepressant. At present the scientific result s do not allow unequivocal formulation of criteria for the differentia l indication of antidepressants. When treating patients we have nevert heless to decide which antidepressants to prescribe. Based on scientif ic results and long therapeutic experience, the author indicates which antidepressants may be more successful in which depression (retarded depression, agitated depression, delusional depression, suicidal ideas , anxiety, obsessive compulsive symptoms, eating disorders and atypica l depression).