There is now strong evidence from controlled studies that antidepressant medication, including SSRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, and MAOIs, is effective in treating both the depressive symptomatology and social dysfunction of many patients with chronic depression. Encouraging data from a controlled long-term trial in progress indicate that desipramine is effective in sustaining recovery during maintenance treatment. Future studies are needed to better understand the optimal duration of treatment, the efficacy of augmentation strategies, and the efficacy of combined treatment with psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy in chronic depression.
