Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior Brown University Brown University
While multiple factors are considered in defining and diagnosing major depressive disorder (MDD), symptom reduction has been the primary focus when evaluating the efficacy and effectiveness of treatment efforts. An FDA indication for an antidepressant does not require the demonstration of improvement in functioning, quality of life, ability to cope with stress, or general well-being. However, recent research has suggested that patients consider nonsymptom factors as, if not more, important in evaluating their response to treatment. The goal of this presentation is to review recent research suggesting that the focus of depression treatment should be broader than symptom elimination.