Book Description

The second book in the Evidence-Based Guides series, The Evidence-Based Guide to Antidepressant Medications, provides a clear reference to the current knowledge and evidence base for the use of antidepressants among a variety of patients across a wide range of disorders. Chapters within this guide are authored by experts in their respective areas of practice, and synthesize a large amount of medical literature into a comprehensive, yet understandable, concise, reader-friendly guide. Each chapter covers both the FDA-approved and off-label use of antidepressant medications and the evidence base for their use. Each chapter also features useful tables pertaining to specific topics, such as summaries of uses and efficacy, and important clinical pearls of wisdom in the Key Clinical Concepts. Topics covered in chapters within this text include: Use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, MAOIs, and tricyclic antidepressants in major depressive disorder, bipolar depression, psychotic depression, and treatment-resistant depression. Acute management of anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and specific phobias through antidepressant use. Use of antidepressant medication in medically ill patients, such as those with cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, renal, and endocrine diseases, as well as cancer, chronic pain, HIV, burns and hospital-based trauma. Developmental considerations necessary to keep in mind when prescribing antidepressants to children and adolescents, along with an outline of controlled studies and their special attention to safety. Medication management in geriatric patients, including antidepressant use among depressed elderly patients with dementia, stroke, or Parkinson's disease. Risks and benefits of prescribing antidepressants during pregnancy and lactation. Together, the authors have synthesized a large amount of medical literature into a comprehensive, yet understandable, concise, reader-friendly guide. The Evidence-Based Guide to Antidepressant Medications is a must-have reference for psychiatrists and other practicing clinicians, residents in training, psychiatric nurses, social workers and researchers.