least once in their lifetime.1 Utilizing similarly sophisticated research designs and assessment instruments, a number of well-designed

studies also have been conducted in other countries, ranging from France to Korea.2 Together, these studies convincingly demonstrate that depression is a worldwide phenomenon, and is a serious public health problem in any society.3 Approximately 15% of the people who suffer from Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical major depression eventually end their lives with suicide,4 making suicide one of the ten major causes of death in many see more countries in recent, years. Recent, studies have also demonstrated that depression is frequently associated with significant Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical morbidity, mortality, and functional impairment, and often incurs substantial financial costs to society comparable to, or exceeding, many other relatively common medical problems such as hypertension or diabetes.5 In addition, recent studies have shown that depression is a major risk factor for other life-threatening medical conditions, such as heart

attacks, stroke, and cancers.6,7 Furthermore, although acute Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical depressive episodes are often time-limited, longitudinal follow-up studies conducted in recent years revealed that relapse often occurs, rendering the long-term outcome of such a condition far more ominous. Remission is often incomplete; many continue to suffer from subsyndromal depressive conditions, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical which also

have been shown to be associated with significant functional disability.8,9 Current status of antidepressant treatment; success and limitations Since the 1950s, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical a large number of antidepressants (ADs) have been developed, each with proven efficacy in welldesigned, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials. Starting with the classical tricyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors, now clinicians also have at their disposal a large array of newer antidepressants, including the SSRIs and the scrotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), as well as a number of other “novel” antidepressants. These compounds, each with its unique profile, together Mephenoxalone afford clinicians powerful tools in their attempts to bring patients back from the brink of despair. At the same time, the multiplicity and complexity presented by these diverse agents represent a puzzling challenge for clinicians both young and seasoned. Despite decades of research, it remains unclear why, despite their proven efficacy (with proven superiority compared with placebos), a relatively large proportion of the patients fail to respond to these agents, and why different patients might respond to different agents. In other words, there is at.