Extensive guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of depression have been developed, which contain a compilation of current, scientifically sound recommendations. These include the Practice Guideline for the treatment of patients with major depressive disorder by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the Clinical Guideline - The treatment and manangement of depression in adults by the National Institute for Health for Clinical Excellence (NICE).
In German-speaking regions, the S3 guideline / clinical practice guideline unipolar depression, published in 2009 by the German Federal Medical Association and the major German psychiatric and psychotherapeutic societies, is an important tool for decision making regarding diagnostic and therapeutic measures.
Dr. Elze