Guidelines for the treatment of depression recommend first- and second- stage therapies – if a patient does not respond to an initial trial of an antidepressant then these second-line strategies should be considered.1,2 However, as outlined on the slide, a danger of therapy for depression is treatment inertia, where these additional treatment options are considered late or not at all.3
References:
1.National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Ongoing management of depression. Available at: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/depression/management/ongoing-management/. Accessed November 2024.
2.National Institute for Health and Care Excellence CG222. Depression in adults: recognition and management. 2022. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng222/. Accessed May 2025.