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Geriatrics43 papers

Depressive disorder caused by drug

Last edited: 4/15/2026

Overview

Drug-induced depressive disorder refers to depressive symptoms arising as a direct consequence of medication use, necessitating careful assessment and potential deprescribing strategies to mitigate adverse effects 1.

Diagnosis

  • Identification of depressive symptoms temporally linked to medication initiation or dose escalation 1.
  • Exclusion of other psychiatric disorders through clinical evaluation and possibly psychiatric referral 1.
  • Review of medication list focusing on known psychotropic effects or side effects that include depression 1.
  • Management

  • First-line: Review and potentially taper or discontinue the causative medication under close monitoring 1.
  • Adjunctive: Consider supportive psychotherapy to address emotional distress during the deprescribing process 1.
  • Pharmacological adjuncts: Specific drug classes or doses not explicitly detailed in provided abstracts 1.
  • Special Populations

  • Elderly: Increased vigilance due to polypharmacy and potential for multiple drug interactions 1.
  • Comorbidities: Careful consideration of withdrawal effects on existing conditions when deprescribing 1.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Conduct a thorough medication review to identify potential causative agents for drug-induced depression (Evidence: Expert opinion) 1.
  • Implement deprescribing strategies under structured supervision to manage withdrawal and monitor depressive symptoms (Evidence: Expert opinion) 1.
  • Integrate rapid evaluation methods to assess the impact of deprescribing on depressive symptoms and overall health outcomes (Evidence: Expert opinion) 2.
  • References

    1 Reeve E, Gnjidic D, Long J, Hilmer S. A systematic review of the emerging definition of 'deprescribing' with network analysis: implications for future research and clinical practice. British journal of clinical pharmacology 2015. link 2 Conklin J, Farrell B, Ward N, McCarthy L, Irving H, Raman-Wilms L. Developmental evaluation as a strategy to enhance the uptake and use of deprescribing guidelines: protocol for a multiple case study. Implementation science : IS 2015. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
    2. [2]
      Developmental evaluation as a strategy to enhance the uptake and use of deprescribing guidelines: protocol for a multiple case study.Conklin J, Farrell B, Ward N, McCarthy L, Irving H, Raman-Wilms L Implementation science : IS (2015)

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