What is a common first-line component of treatment for major depressive disorder?

What is a common first-line component of treatment for major depressive disorder?

• A. Antipsychotic monotherapy
• B. Immunotherapy
• C. Antidepressant therapy
• D. Insulin therapy

Answer: (C)

Antidepressant therapy is the common first-line treatment for major depressive disorder. These medications help correct chemical imbalances in brain circuits that regulate mood, energy, sleep, and thinking, and they have a strong evidence base showing they can reduce depressive symptoms for many people. In practice, selecting an antidepressant—often an SSRI first due to its favorable safety and tolerability profile—provides the foundation for symptom relief, frequently combined with psychotherapy for better outcomes. The other options don’t fit as initial treatments for uncomplicated MDD: immunotherapy and insulin therapy target entirely different conditions, and antipsychotic monotherapy is not standard first-line unless there are specific features like psychosis or as augmentation in treatment-resistant cases.

Antidepressant therapy is the common first-line treatment for major depressive disorder. These medications help correct chemical imbalances in brain circuits that regulate mood, energy, sleep, and thinking, and they have a strong evidence base showing they can reduce depressive symptoms for many people. In practice, selecting an antidepressant—often an SSRI first due to its favorable safety and tolerability profile—provides the foundation for symptom relief, frequently combined with psychotherapy for better outcomes. The other options don’t fit as initial treatments for uncomplicated MDD: immunotherapy and insulin therapy target entirely different conditions, and antipsychotic monotherapy is not standard first-line unless there are specific features like psychosis or as augmentation in treatment-resistant cases.