Adding On: Utilizing Adjunctive Medications in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder
Presented by Thomas L. Schwartz, MD
November 3, 2022
Identifying whether a patient with major depressive disorder (MDD) needs adjunctive medications is critical in the treatment of MDD. Many patients with MDD will only respond partially to their initial antidepressant prescription and require adjunctive medications to see further improvements in their depressive symptoms. In a presentation at the 2022 NEI Congress, Dr. Thomas Schwartz elegantly described the various factors that contribute to the treatment of MDD, as well as specific signs and symptoms that may lead one to prescribe adjunctive medications. To begin Dr. Schwartz discussed the various symptoms that effect patients with MDD and the frequency with which they occur. Next, Dr. Schwartz clearly defined Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD) and discussed the Thase and Rush system to help understand the various stages associated with treating TRD. Dr. Schwartz highlighted research showing the difficulty of treating depression with a single antidepressant, and how each subsequent attempted treatment does not show the same improvement in life quality as the first attempted treatment, which is especially important in treating depression. This presentation covered the risk factors that may contribute to a person developing TRD like becoming single, or unemployed and the possible effects of personality. Dr. Schwartz noted that out of all the risk factors associated with developing TRD, experiencing childhood trauma is uniquely damaging to a patient’s treatment. Finally, Dr. Schwartz discussed the various medications that are currently being used or are going through clinical trials, as adjunctive medications to treat MDD along with the benefits and limitations of utilizing these different adjunctive medications.
On the Blue End: Diagnosis and Treatment of Bipolar Depression
Manpreet K. Singh, MD, MS and Andrew J. Cutler, MD
November 4, 2022
The correct and timely diagnosis of bipolar depression is of utmost importance in order to avoid patient suffering and initiate the correct course of treatment. At the 2022 NEI Congress, Dr. Manpreet Singh and Dr. Andrew Cutler discussed the misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder, including factors that may contribute to it, were discussed as well as screening tools that may be useful for identifying patients with likely bipolar disorder. Drs Singh and Cutler then discussed evidence-based treatments that may be employed to address bipolar depression, including “atypical antipsychotics” and mood stabilizers. Additionally, the treatment of pediatric bipolar disorder was explored by Dr. Singh and both Drs. Cutler and Singh discussed strategies for working together to develop the best treatment plan to meet the individual needs of the patient.
Sources:
Thomas L. Schwartz, MD. Adding On: Utilizing Adjunctive Medications in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder. Presented November 3 at 2022 NEI Congress, Colorado Springs, CO.
Manpreet K. Singh, MD, MS and Andrew J. Cutler, MD. On the Blue End: Diagnosis and Treatment of Bipolar Depression. Presented November 4 at 2022 NEI Congress, Colorado Springs, CO.
To Learn More: The recording of these presentations, as well as all of the other presentations from the 2022 NEI Congress, will be available as Encore Presentations for NEI Members.