Tratamento medicamentoso para depressão e prevenção quaternária

The widespread use of antidepressants has increased steadily in recent years. However, the evidence for drug treatment of depression is not very consistent, with the most severe forms of the disorder being restricted and with modest clinical improvement. In addition, the adverse effects and risks related to the chronic use of these medications are well established in the scientific literature. Thus, it is important that family doctors take a critical approach to this problem and ask themselves how best to help their patients. The authors raise some hypotheses to explain the excessive prescription of antidepressants and, mainly, bring guidelines for family and community doctors in the care of people with depression, with practical suggestions to guide care for quaternary prevention, using tools such as sharing of decision, collaborative care, and the search for social supports during the consultation.