treatment-resistant depression
Depression that fails to respond adequately to multiple appropriate antidepressant treatments of sufficient dose and duration.
Full Definition
A clinical condition defined as major depressive disorder that does not respond to at least two adequate trials of different classes of antidepressant medications, each given at therapeutic doses for sufficient duration (typically 6-8 weeks). Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) represents a significant clinical challenge and may require specialized interventions such as electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, or novel medications. Proper documentation must specify previous treatments attempted and their outcomes to establish the treatment-resistant designation.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate when used as a compound modifier; ensure specific criteria are met before using this designation.
In Context
- "The patient meets criteria for treatment-resistant depression after failing trials of sertraline and bupropion." — Psychiatric consultation report
- "Treatment-resistant depression often requires multimodal therapeutic approaches." — Clinical treatment guidelines