Antidepressant-Related Apathy: Implications for Practice

Abstract Depression remains a mental health disorder managed by primary care providers. Although uncomplicated depression is clear and easy to manage with medication and psychotherapy, there are subtle adverse effects of treatment that can go undetected. This report discusses the relationship between serotonin drugs and apathy syndrome, anatomical changes, and the assessment and clinical implication of apathy syndrome. Management of apathy syndrome is also discussed. Apathy syndrome can be a challenge and debilitating at times. Therefore, primary care clinicians should be aware apathy syndrome as an adverse effect to treatment and proper treatment approaches to relieve it. This could potentially improve compliance with depression treatment.