Use of antipsychotics in the treatment of major depressive disorder in an outpatient mental health center

Results Antipsychotics are used in 27% of the patients, with a predominancy in the female gender (77.8%), a global average age of 57.9 ± 12.6 years. There is a predominancy of absence of psychiatric background (55.6%) and the absence of previous hospitalisations (66.7%). In 96.3% of the sample there was no toxic abuse. It is observed the following distribution in the use of antipsychotics: quetiapine and olanzapine (29.6% each one), risperidone (26%), paliperidone (3%). Average dose was 5.7 mg/d for olanzapine, 2.3 mg/d for risperidone, 84.5 mg/d for quetiapine and 6 mg/d for paliperidone. Conclusions It is observed an important frequency in the use of antipsychotic treatment for MDD, in relation with the fact that there is growing evidence for the efficacy of atypical antipsychotics for adjunctive treatment of depressive symptoms of MDD. There is scientific evidence that supports the use of the two antipsychotics predominantly used in our sample (olanzapine and quetiapine) [2], but more studies are needed to establish its place in management.