Medical therapy for major depressive disorder in Latinos.

Latino patients require special considerations due to cultural beliefs, inadequate antidepressant response, increased placebo response, and adherence problems. Current evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of depression are generally applicable to a Hispanic population, but no separate recommendations for the treatment of major depressive disorder in Hispanic veterans or their families exist. More research is needed on depression in Hispanic patients in order to establish treatment guidelines specific to this population.