Resumen de Biological Strategies, Adjunct to the Current Antidepressant Treatment
The currently accepted antidepressant treatments have failed to demonstrate solid results. Placebo studies have planted further doubts on their efficacy. Since the STAR-D study was published, new pharmacological alternatives have been researched; unfortunately, most have proven to have limited usefulness. We now know that mental well-being depends at least in part on the patient’s physical well-being. This concept correlates cognitive activity with the immune function among other things. Improving the modifiable lifestyle factors, early in life, may prevent cognitive impairment during the normal ageing process, preventing depression and other disorders.In part, due to the lack of new agents, and the desire for better treatments, healthcare providers and patients are in search of alternative options. This review will focus on the putative action of some of these strategies, the existing data to support their use jointly with currently accepted therapeutic options. The author reviews most of the relevant studies related to the biological strategies that may be used as adjunct to the accepted antidepressant treatments.Among the most relevant strategies, meditation, physical activity, sleep hygiene, dietary interventions, among other strategies, must be reviewed with the patient since the beginning of treatment, as this will improve the results of both, the psychological and pharmacological treatments, particularly by empowering the patient as an active part of the healing process.Physical exercise is a cornerstone in the management of many disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and stroke. These neurodegenerative disorders are frequently comorbid with depression.Most of these strategies, involving modifiable lifestyle factors are not really innovative, but highlighting their use as an important part of medical psychoeducation should improve current treatment results.
