Drug-Induced Depression: A Systematic Review to Inform Clinical Practice

BACKGROUND: Certain medications may contribute to the etiology of depressive symptoms and disorders. Research in this area, however, has been hampered by methodological and conceptual problems. This review had two objectives: to identify evidence linking medical drugs to depressive symptoms and disorders, and to summarize this evidence in a clinically meaningful way. METHODS: Electronic literature searches were performed and studies were reviewed with reference to critical methodological features. RESULTS: No medications causing the typical major depressive syndrome were identified. Evidence was found linking corticosteroids, interferon-alpha, interleukin-2, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, mefloquine, progestin-releasing implanted contraceptives and propranolol to the etiology of atypical depressive syndromes. CONCLUSIONS: A small number of drugs have been shown capable of inducing depressive symptoms. Drug-induced depression appears to differ symptomatically from classical major depression.