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Antidepressants: uses and attitudes among consultant psychiatrists – A questionnaire study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 June 2014

Brian O'Shea*
Affiliation:
Newcastle Hospital, Greystones, Co. Wicklow; Clinical Lecturer in Psychiatry, University College Dublin

Abstract

An audit of Consultant Psychiatrists' views on and uses of antidepressant drugs is reported. At present senior prescribers largely opt for the older tricyclic antidepressants despite a knowledge of their shortcomings. MAOIs are less popular and newer drugs are viewed cautiously and apprehensively. Lofepramine is largely viewed as an alternative to dothiepin and amitriptyline. Non-drug strategies in the management of depression consist largely of support, environmental manipulation and electroconvulsive therapy. The relatively novel treatment, cognitive therapy, has a strong minority following.

Type
Practice Review
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1991

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