More than two-thirds of people with major depression can become symptom-free if they work with their doctors and have the patience to try different treatments — such as antidepressants or cognitive therapy – until they find the right one. These are the results of recent a landmark study funded by the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health.

The study, known as STAR*D, included nearly 3,700 patients treated at 41 primary-care and psychiatric clinics across the United States. All the patients initially received the same antidepressant medication. Those who didn’t respond to or couldn’t tolerate the medication were encouraged to move on to the next treatment steps, where they were divided into various groups that received treatments including cognitive therapy alone or in combination with medication, as well as several different antidepressants used alone or in combination.

Of the patients in the study who worked with their doctors and tried various therapies, 67 percent achieved full remission of depression symptoms by the end of one to four treatment steps. Researchers found that thirteen percent of the 123 adults who took part in the study who did not get better on the first three drugs they tried were helped by a fourth. However, the study also showed that the more tries people made, the more likely it was that they later would relapse and slide back into depression.

About 15 million Americans each year suffer depression, the nation’s top mental health problem.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 2 Nov 2006
    Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.