Refractory depression

Refractory Depression is a term used in clinical psychiatry to describe cases of major depressive disorder that do not respond to typical modes of treatment, such as psychotherapy and common antidepressants such as SSRIs.

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Treatment of refractory depression has traditionally most commonly involved electroconvulsive therapy and use of non-standard medications, but new technologies such as transcranial magnetic stimulation are being studied as a safer alternative. Treatment of refractory depression may also involve more invasive interventions, such as vagus nerve stimulation.