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The Road to Recovery from Depression – Don’t Drive Today with Yesterday’s Map

2007; Karger Publishers; Volume: 76; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1159/000104701

1423-0348

Giovanni A. Fava, Elena Tomba, Silvana Grandi,

Mental Health and Psychiatry

The issue of recovery is getting increasing attention in depression research, particularly after the publication of the STAR*D results. The paper analyzes some issues which may hinder effective treatment of major depressive disorders: the inadequacies of a cross-sectional DSM assessment without clinical differentiation of the extent, development and seriousness of the disturbances (staging); over-emphasis on and prolongation of drug treatment, without paying attention to problems related to tolerance; neglect of the active role of the patient in achieving recovery, with the integration of psychotherapeutic strategies in a sequential model. If we are able to remove the conceptual obstacles which obstruct our view of depression and silence the sound of propaganda, we may then become aware of a different scenario in mood disorders and be able to develop therapeutic strategies of enduring quality.