A Review of Psychostimulants for Adults With Depression.

A survey of medical literature suggests that for patients with depression who have not responded to other augmentation strategies, psychostimulants may offer improvements in mood, energy, and concentration.

Depression is a common condition that significantly impairs social and occupational functioning. Many patients do not respond to first-line pharmacotherapies and are considered to have treatment-resistant depression (TRD). These patients may benefit from augmentation of their antidepressant to reduce depression. Multiple medications have demonstrated various degrees of efficacy for augmentation, including psychostimulants. This article reviews studies of psychostimulants as augmentation agents for TRD and discusses risks, offers advice, and makes recommendations for clinicians who prescribe stimulants.