The literature search for this update began with results of the literature search performed in 1997 to develop the initial guideline. The literature search conducted in 2002 for this project was conducted prospectively on Medline using the major keywords of depression, depressive disorders; consensus development conferences, practice guidelines, guidelines, outcomes and process assessment (health care); clinical trials, controlled clinical trials, multicenter studies, randomized controlled trials, cohort studies; adults; English language; and published between 1/1/97 and 9/30/02.
Terms used for specific topic searches within the major key words included epidemiology; national cost of treatment (economics); screening (for depression, bipolar disorder; alcohol abuse); diagnosis; suicide risk assessment; patient education; exercise; serotonin selective reuptake inhibition (citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline), serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibition (duloxetine, mirtazapine, tricyclic antidepressants, venlafaxine), norepinephrine/dopamine reuptake inhibition (bupropion), serotonin-2 antagonist/reuptake inhibition (nefazodone, trazodone), St. John´s Wort (Hypericum Perforatum), maintenance on pharmacotherapy, continuation duration, withdrawal syndrome (paroxetine/Paxil), medication adherence, managing sexual side effects of pharmacologic agents, pregnancy and pharmacologic agents, breast feeding and pharmacologic agents, pharmacotherapy not included above; interpersonal psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, short-term or focal psychodynamic psychotherapy, marital therapy, psychotherapy, not included above; other treatment not included above; ongoing clinical assessment; medical comorbidity, alcohol abuse, panic (including generalized anxiety disorder or phobia), obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders and anorexia nervosa, partner violence, sexual assault, pregnancy (not included above), postpartum (not included above); and depression not included above.
The search was conducted in components each keyed to a specific causal link in a formal problem structure (available upon request). The search was supplemented with very recent clinical trials known to expert members of the panel. Negative trials were specifically sought. The search was a single cycle.