Diagnosis and treatment of a major depressive episode.

A thorough evaluation should be conducted before diagnosing and treating major depressive disorder. Research suggests that augmentation of antidepressant pharmacotherapy from the start of treatment may be more efficacious than antidepressant monotherapy. Clinical implementation of objective measurement tools is recommended for the assessment of treatment outcomes. These strategies may increase the likelihood of patient remission and continued wellness during the continuation and maintenance phases of treatment. Copyright 2009 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.