To the Editor: In an ironic clinician–academic dichotomy, in the same month that the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists published a survey showing that 79% of Australian psychiatrists combine antidepressants and 75% of psychiatrists believe that general practitioners should be given information on this topic,1 Keks et al chose a non-psychiatric journal to “mandate that combinations be used as a last resort, and only in specialist settings”.2
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- depression.com.au and thepsychologist.com.au, Melbourne, VIC.
- 1. Horgan D, Dodd S, Berk M. A survey of combination antidepressant use in Australia. Australas Psychiatry 2007; 15: 26-29.
- 2. Keks NA, Burrows GB, Copolov DL, et al. Beyond the evidence: is there a place for antidepressant combinations in the pharmacotherapy of depression? Med J Aust 2007; 186: 142-144. <MJA full text>
- 3. Dodd S, Horgan D, Mahli G, Berk M. To combine or not to combine? A literature review of antidepressant combination therapy. J Affect Dis 2005; 89: 1-11.
- 4. Fava M, Rush AJ, Trivedi MH, et al. Background and rationale for the sequenced treatment alternatives to relieve depression (STAR*D) study. Psychiatr Clin North Am 2003; 26: 457-494.
- 5. McGrath PJ, Stewart JW, Fava M, et al. Tranylcypromine versus venlafaxine plus mirtazapine following three failed antidepressant medication trials for depression: a STAR*D report. Am J Psychiatry 2006; 163: 1531-1541.