Introduction | Diagnostic Indications and Contraindications |
Evidence for Acute-Phase Efficacy | Evidence for Continuation-
and Maintenance-Phase Efficacy | Side Effects and Serious
Adverse Events | Clinical Applications of Combined Treatment |
Conclusion | References Both drugs and psychotherapy have a role
to play in the treatment of the mood disorders. Pharmacotherapy
has been shown to be effective in literally hundreds of placebo-
controlled trials and represents the current standard of
treatment for both depression and mania (American Psychiatric
Association 2000). Psychotherapy is widely practiced but has
been less intensively studied. It has fared well in direct
comparisons with pharmacotherapy, particularly the newer
approaches tailored specifically for depressed populations
(Hollon et al. 2002). Given the apparent efficacy of both
monotherapies, it is not surprising that the two are sometimes
combined. Both biological and psychosocial factors have been
implicated in the etiology of the mood disorders