Research Activities, May 2012: Announcements: New clinician and consumer research summaries on treatment-resistant depression available

Research Activities, May 2012: Announcements: New clinician and consumer research summaries on treatment-resistant depression available

New clinician and consumer research summaries on treatment-resistant depression available

New clinician and consumer research summaries on nonpharmacologic therapies for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) are now available from the Effective Healthcare Program of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). The summaries are based on a recently released research review, Nonpharmacologic Interventions for Treatment-Resistant Depression in Adults, which found insufficient evidence to evaluate whether nonpharmacologic treatments are effective for TRD. These new products summarize evidence on the effectiveness and efficacy of four non-pharmacologic treatments: electroconvulsive therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, vagus nerve stimulation, and cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal psychotherapy. Comparative clinical research on nonpharmacologic interventions for TRD is in its infancy. Many clinical questions about efficacy and effectiveness remain unanswered.
These findings and future research needs are summarized in the clinician summary, Nonpharmacologic Interventions for Treatment-Resistant Depression in Adults, and the consumer summary, Therapies for Treatment-Resistant Depression. Other available materials include a continuing medical education course and a faculty slide set.
These materials and many others that explore the effectiveness and risks of treatment options for various conditions are available on AHRQ's Effective Health Care Program Web site, http://www.effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov.