Clinical Results for Patients With Major Depressive Disorder in theTexas Medication Algorithm Project

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Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent, serious, debilitatingillness that affects 7% to 12% of men and 20% to 25% of women in their lifetime.1,2 The course of MDD is typically chronicor recurrent.3 From 10% to 30% of patientshave major depressive episodes that last loner than 2 years, and 20% to 30%have MDD superimposed on dysthymic disorder (double depression).4-6 Majordepressive disorder accounts for up to 60% of psychiatric hospitalizations,and 8% to 15% of these patients commit suicide.7,8 Furthermore,depression worsens the morbidity and mortality of several general medicalconditions (eg, cardiac heart disease,9-11 myocardialinfarction,12-14 chronicpain,15 diabetes,16 andasthma).17,18 The direct monetarycost of treatment, combined with the indirect costs from lost productivity,are substantial19-21 andhave been estimated to be between $44 and $53 billion per year.22-25

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