Definition of treatment-resistant depression – Asia Pacific perspectives

Abstract

Background: The lack of uniformity in the definition of treatment resistant depression (TRD) within the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region may have implications for patient management. We aimed to characterize the most commonly used TRD definition in selected APAC countries. Methods: A systematic literature review of TRD definitions in APAC countries was conducted in Medline and Embase (2010–2016) and conference proceedings (2014 and 2016). TRD guidelines (APAC, Europe regional, US, or international) were also searched. An expert-panel explored APAC nuances in TRD definitions to achieve consensus for a regional-level definition. Results: Ten guidelines and 89 studies qualified for study inclusion. A..