Treatment-resistant depression affects millions of Americans. Tips for these severely depressed patients seeking new depression treatments.

Millions of Americans with depression are able to successfully manage their condition with a combination of available therapies. However, according to an article in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, up to 35 percent of patients treated for depression may have a little-known condition called Treatment-Resistant Depression, or TRD.

“There are evolving definitions of TRD among the research community, but at this point, a TRD diagnosis is usually given to a patient with major depressive disorder who has failed two adequate trials of an antidepressant medication,” said Dr. W. Clay Jackson, a primary care physician and assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at the University of Tennessee.

Not being able to find an effective treatment is a serious challenge for those who suffer from depression. There are many types of depression that can be difficult to treat, including major depressive disorder (MDD), treatment-resistant depression, bipolar depression and psychotic depression. MDD, the most common form of depression, is a highly debilitating disease. Treatment-resistant depression can be potentially fatal.

A 2008 article in The Lancet points out that the World Health Organization has concluded that it is the single most disabling medical condition. Furthermore, depression that is hard to treat is often more severe, more chronic and more disabling. In addition, treatment resistance increases the likelihood of physical symptoms in patients such as aches, pains, headache or GI disturbance. TRD patients are also more likely to have attempted suicide at some point in their lives, says an article in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, as well as an article in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

“TRD is far more common than most people realize,” said Jackson. “Patients suffering from chronic depression may possibly have TRD and should seek help from their clinician.” “There are evolving definitions of TRD among the research community, but at this point, a TRD diagnosis is usually given to a patient with major depressive disorder who has failed two adequate trials of an antidepressant medication.”

Source: North American Press Syndicate-June 20, 2008