European Psychiatry (Jan 2024)

The new European Medicines Agency guideline on antidepressants: a guide for researchers and drug developers

  • Florence Butlen-Ducuing,
  • Marion Haberkamp,
  • Georgios Aislaitner,
  • Ewa Bałkowiec-Iskra,
  • Taina Mattila,
  • Marika Doucet,
  • Marta Kollb-Sielecka,
  • Pavel Balabanov,
  • Ann-Kristin Leuchs,
  • André Elferink

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2023.2479
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 67

Abstract

Read online

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), depressive disorders are currently considered as one of the most disabling medical conditions in the world with one of the highest disability-adjusted life years [1] and this situation has apparently been further worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic [2]. Up to two thirds of patients with major depressive disorders (MDD) do not achieve full remission following an adequate first line standard of care and/or experience residual symptoms such as anxiety, impaired cognition, fatigue, sleep disturbance, or anhedonia [3]. Several attempts are often needed to find the most suitable treatment [4]. Thus, there is a need for medicinal products with better efficacy (e.g., faster onset of action, higher rates of response and remission), improved safety and/or more personalised profiles [5].

Keywords