RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Use of antidepressant medication following acquired brain injury: concise guidance
JF Clinical Medicine
JO Clin Med
FD Royal College of Physicians
SP 268
OP 274
DO 10.7861/clinmedicine.5-3-268
VO 5
IS 3
A1 Lynne Turner-Stokes
A1 Ron MacWalter
YR 2005
UL http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/5/3/268.abstract
AB Depression is increasingly recognised as a common sequel to acquired brain injury and the use of antidepressant medication in this context has increased markedly over recent years. However, these drugs are not without side effects – some of them serious – and they should not be used without proper evaluation and monitoring. This set of concise guidance was developed jointly by the British Society of Rehabilitation Medicine, the British Geriatrics Society and the Royal College of Physicians, to guide clinicians working with people who have brain injury of any cause (ie stroke, trauma, anoxia, infection etc). The guidance covers (a) screening and assessment of depression in the context of brain injury, (b) issues to consider and discuss with the patient and their family before starting treatment, and (c) proper treatment planning and evaluation – including planned withdrawal at the end of treatment.