Keller M B
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University, Providence, R.I. 02906.
J Clin Psychiatry. 1993 Feb;54 Suppl:4-8; discussion 9.
Depression is a serious, chronic, and debilitating illness warranting speedy and effective intervention by psychiatrists and other physicians who see patients with depressive symptoms, whether or not severe enough to meet diagnostic criteria. Effective treatments are available for depressive symptoms, including pharmacotherapy with tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibiting agents, or newer medications; psychotherapy (including cognitive therapy, behavioral approaches, and interpersonal therapy); and electroconvulsive therapy. Studies have shown, however, that patients' depressive disorders or symptomatology is often not treated or patients receive such low levels of treatment that episodes are prolonged and tend to recur. The implications are that depression is inadequately recognized and treated. Many factors undoubtedly contribute to the underrecognition of illness and generally inadequate treatment received by many patients with depression. Nevertheless, greater awareness and more effective treatment of depressive symptoms are needed to decrease depression morbidity and mortality.
抑郁症是一种严重、慢性且使人衰弱的疾病，需要精神科医生和其他诊治有抑郁症状患者的医生迅速进行有效干预，无论症状严重程度是否足以符合诊断标准。对于抑郁症状有有效的治疗方法，包括使用三环类抗抑郁药、单胺氧化酶抑制剂或新型药物进行药物治疗；心理治疗（包括认知疗法、行为疗法和人际疗法）；以及电休克治疗。然而，研究表明，患者的抑郁症或症状往往未得到治疗，或者患者接受的治疗水平很低，以至于发作期延长且容易复发。这意味着抑郁症未得到充分的认识和治疗。许多因素无疑导致了对疾病的认识不足以及许多抑郁症患者普遍接受的治疗不充分。尽管如此，仍需要提高对抑郁症状的认识并进行更有效的治疗，以降低抑郁症的发病率和死亡率。
