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Wednesday, 13 May 2015

MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER AND MANAGEMENT- LAW JIA JUIN

Major depressive disorder and step-wise treatment strategies.
             


References:
·         Pharmacotherapy principle and practice
·         BPAC pharmacological management of depression in adult.
·         Ministry of health NZ depression and management.

Definition
·   A serious medical condition with a biological foundation; it responds to biological & psychological treatments
·   Significant and pervasive symptoms that can affect mood, thinking, physical health, work and relationships
Signs & symptoms
·   Emotional: depressed mood (sadness), anhedonia (inability to experience pleasure), pessimism, feeling of emptiness, irritability, anxiety, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, thoughts of death/suicidal intention
·   Physical: disturbed sleep, change in appetite/weight, psychomotor changes, decreased energy, fatigue, bodily aches and pain
·  Cognitive: impaired concentration, indecisiveness, poor memory
Risk factors
·   Parental history of depression, difficult temperament as a child; attachment difficulties/parental neglect
·   Family discord; previous depression/anxiety in adulthood
Diagnosis
·   At least 5 depressive symptoms for at least 2 weeks: depressed mood, diminished interest or pleasure in usual activities, ↑/↓ in appetite or weight, ↑/↓ in amount of sleep, ↑/↓ in psychomotor activity, fatigue or loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, diminished ability to think, concentrate or make decisions; recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal ideation or suicide attempt
·   SIG E CAPS - depression, sleep, interest, guilt, energy, concentration, appetite, psychomotor, suicide
Epidemiology
Cause is unknown; females are ~ twice as likely as males to experience MDD; average age at onset is mid 20s
Pathophysiology
·   Biogenic amine hypothesis: Depression may be caused by decreased brain levels of the neurotransmitters NE, 5-HT &DA
·   Postsynaptic changes in receptor sensitivity:  desensitization/down-regulation of NE or 5- HT1A receptors may relate to onset of antidepressant effects
·   Dysregulation hypothesis: failure of homeostatic regulation of neurotransmitter systems, rather than absolute ↑/↓ in their activities. Effective antidepressants are theorized to restore efficient regulation to these systems
·   5-HT/NE-link hypothesis: there is a link between 5-HT and NE activity, and that both the serotonergic and noradrenergic systems are involved in the antidepressant response
·   The role of DA: increased DA neurotransmission in the mesolimbic pathway may be related to the mechanism of action of antidepressants
Goals
·   To eliminate or reduce the symptoms of depression, minimize adverse effects, ensure compliance with the therapeutic regimen, facilitate a return to a premorbid level of functioning.
·   Return to euthymia; prevent relapse and suicide attempts
Pharmacological treatment
·   SSRI: eg: fluoxetine, paroxetine, citalopram; 1st line for generalized anxiety disorder & for post-traumatic stress disorder; inhibit the reuptake of serotonin -> more serotonin available in the brain -> enhances neurotransmission, sends nerve impulses & improves mood
o Patients should be treated for at least 12 weeks before assessing the efficacy, may need to be continued for 6-12 months after symptoms of anxiety have resolved
o Side effects – stomach upset, suicidal thoughts, serotonin toxicity, SIADH (low Na), sedation, sexual dysfunction
o Interactions – SSRIS are CYP450 inhibitors -> can ↑ plasma conc of other drugs metabolized via CYP; ↑ bleeding risk with anticoagulants & NSAIDs; ↑ serotonergic effect with St John Wort & MAOI (-> serotonin syndrome -> avoid concomitant use); SSRIs may enhance the plasma conc & toxicity of TCAs
o Monitor – clinical worsening, suicidality
o Patient counselling – may impair ability to drive or operate machinery; do not stop abruptly; avoid alcohol
·   TCAs: eg: amitriptyline, clomipramine, dothiepin, imipramine, maprotilene, mianserin, nortriptyline, trimipramine; used as 2nd line; block reuptake of 5-HT & NA, antagonist of α1, ACh M1 & H1 receptors
o Side effects – cardiac arrhythmia, cholinergic(anti), constipation, confusion, continence (urinary retention)
o Interactions – TCAs potentiate the effects of alcohol & other CNS depressants; potentiate SEs of anticholinergic drugs, & the hypertensive & cardiac effects of sympathomimetic
o Monitor – BP, blood counts, LFTs; do not start TCA or SSRI 2 weeks after stopping MAOI
o Patient counselling – may cause drowsiness: do not operate machinery; avoid alcohol; do not stop abruptly; may cause photosensitivity reactions
·   MAOI: used as 3rd line; non-selective – phenelzine, tranylcypromine; selective reversible (RIMA) – moclobemide
o Interactions – hypertensive effect with tyramine containing foods (mature cheese -> cheese reaction; red wine, marmite, etc), levodopa, sympathomimetics; antagonize effects of antihypertensive agents; enhance effect of anaesthetics, antidiabetic agents, sumatriptan, opioids & nefopam, antiepileptics, antihistamines, antipsychotics; serotonergic effect with other antidepressants -> serotonin syndrome
o Monitoring – clinical worsening, suicidality
o Patient counselling – avoid cheese, protein extracts & other foods/drinks with high tyramine content; limit alcohol, caffeine intake; do not stop abruptly; may impair ability to drive/operate machinery
·   SNRI: eg: venlafaxine; 2nd line; inhibits 5-HT & NA reuptake (greater effect on 5-HT at lower doses)
o Side effects – asthenia/fatigue, hypertension, loss of appetite, headache, somnolence, dizziness, insomnia, nervousness, nausea, constipation, sexual dysfunction, weakness, neck pain, diaphoresis
o Interactions – cimetidine ↑ venlafaxine conc; venlafaxine ↑ plasma conc of antiarrhythmics, warfarin & phenothiazines; enhanced anticholinergic toxicity with TCAs; ↑ toxicity with SSRIs & MAOIs ( serotonin syndrome)
·   NRI: eg: reboxetine; inhibits NA reuptake, weakly inhibit 5-HT reuptake
o Side effects – insomnia, nausea, dry mouth, constipation, tachycardia, impaired visual accommodation
o Interactions – MAOIs should not be started until 1 week after stopping NRI (risk of acute hypertensive crises); avoid NRI 2 weeks after stopping MAOIs
o Patient counselling – may cause sleepiness: limit alcohol; do not drive/operate machinery
·   Presynaptic α2 antagonist: (centrally acting) eg: mirtazapine; 3rd line; blocks presynaptic α2 receptors -> ↑ in NE & 5-HT; blocks postsynaptic 5-HT & H1 receptors
o Side effects – weight gain, dry mouth, postural hypotension, edema, drowsiness, confusion, anxiety, insomnia, arthralgia
o Interactions – avoid concomitant use with MAOIs or within 2 weeks after stopping MAOIs; additive serotonergic effects with other serotonergic active substances; may ↑ sedating properties of benzodiazepines & other sedatives; may ↑ CNS depressant effect of alcohol; cimetidine (weak inhibitor of CYP) ↑ mirtazapine plasma conc (-> ↓ mirtazapine dose); CBZ & phenytoin, CYP3A4 inducers ↑ its clearance (-> ↑ its dose)
Non-pharmacological treatment
·   Psychotherapy – (interpersonal, cognitive & behavioral therapy) interactive processes allow the exploration of thoughts, feelings & behavior for the purpose of problem solving or achieving higher levels of functioning
·   ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) – electrically-induced in patients to provide relief from psychiatric illnesses; used as last line of intervention; monitor BP, oxygen, HR during therapy; monitor brain waves, seizure activity & cognitive function; ADRs – rare & short term: headache, nausea, muscle aches
·   Bright light therapy – patients look into an into a 10000-lux intensity light box for ~ 30/day; used for patients with SAD (seasonal affective disorder) & as adjunctive use for MDD; ADRs – eye strain, headache, insomnia, hypomania

Depression treatment plan:
Depression treatment strategies:
·         Antidepressants selection is multifactorial drug & patient characteristics and previous response.
·         But most of the time SSRIs are generally first line treatment for healthy adult, elderly, small kids and breast feeding women. (see DIAGRAM 1)
·         In breast feeding, citalopram provides lower drug exposure compared to fluoxetine
·         TCAs are relatively safe in pregnancy. Possible link to congenital abnormalities to exposure to paroxetine in the first trimester and perhaps other exposure outcomes with other SSRIs.
·         Fluoxetine, Paroxetine and mirtazapine are safe for diabetic patient.
·         SSRI are safer than other AD in management of hypertensive patient.
·         Venlafaxine (SNRI) is used third line after unsatisfactory response to trial of 2 other antidepressants. Special authority is required.
·         Non-pharmacological therapy can be considered at any stage:
Ø  Psychotherapy – (interpersonal, cognitive & behavioral therapy) interactive processes allow the exploration of thoughts, feelings & behavior for the purpose of problem solving or achieving higher levels of functioning
Ø  ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) – electrically-induced in patients to provide relief from psychiatric illnesses; used as last line of intervention; monitor BP, oxygen, HR during therapy; monitor brain waves, seizure activity & cognitive function; ADRs – rare & short term: headache, nausea, muscle aches
Ø  Bright light therapy – patients look into an into a 10000-lux intensity light box for ~ 30/day; used for patients with SAD (seasonal affective disorder) & as adjunctive use for MDD; ADRs – eye strain, headache, insomnia, hypomania
 

Other important monitoring, precaution, and management:
·         Monitor ADR of AD used. Eg if SSRI used:


·         Beware of drug interaction. (DIAGRAM 5)
Ø  Eg for SSRI: CYP 450 interactions:
o   Inhibitor of CYP1A2, e.g. fluvoxamine (strong)
o    Inhibitor of CYP2D6, e.g. fluoxetine (strong), paroxetine (strong), sertraline (weak)
o    Inhibitor of CYP 3A4 e.g. fluvoxamine
·         Most AD can cause orthostatic hypotension.
Ø  Thus concomitant use of antihypertensive agents can enhance the risk orthostatic hypotension .Thus patients should be advised to lie down and raise their legs if symptoms such as dizziness, pallor and/or sweating occur
·         When changing antidepressants different washout periods are required depending on the class of drug and the actual drug. (see DIAGRAM 6
·         Evaluate treatment response only after 4-6 weeks after the treatment started. (DIAGRAM 7)

 DIAGRAM 1

DIAGRAM 2


 DIAGRAM 3
 DIAGRAM 4
 DIAGRAM 5
 DIAGRAM 6
 DIAGRAM 7











 





































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