Achieving the best outcome in treatment of depression.

Combined treatment with psychotherapy or psychiatric consult and drug therapy has shown better response in several studies than either therapy alone. Although not proven by clinical trials, selecting a medication by matching its side-effect profile to patient characteristics is supported by case reports and likely enhances compliance. Patients who do not improve with initial therapy often benefit from being switched to another class of antidepressants, or having a drug from another class added to their therapy.