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How do clinicians choose antidepressants?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Rob Macpherson*
Affiliation:
Rehabilitation Unit, Coney Hill Hospital, Gloucester GL4 7QJ
Ed Robson
Affiliation:
The Burden Neurological Hospital, Stapleton, Bristol BS16 1QT
*
Correspondence
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Abstract

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A survey of the prescribing practice of a group of psychiatrists working in a Bristol NHS trust found that their preferred choice of antidepressants was surprisingly similar, but reported doses of antidepressants often fell below generally accepted minimum levels. Clinicians used mainly newer antidepressants rather than tricyclics. The choice of antidepressant was based on side effect profile, overdose danger, training and personal experience of efficacy. Cost and drug company advertising had little effect on choice. Difficulties in involving depressed patients in treatment decisions are discussed.

Type
Original papers
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1994

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