Two-week delay in onset of action of antidepressants: new evidence
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Summary: Many sources purport that antidepressants have a delayed onset of action, measured in weeks rather than days. Recent data using weekly or daily mood ratings demonstrate that maximum improvement occurs during the first 2 weeks, with some improvement within the first 3 days. Methodological issues may underlie the delayed-onset hypothesis.
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Clear and sustained effects of antidepressant drugs are often not evident until 4-6 weeks of administration.
“clear and sustained effects often not evident until 4–6 weeks of administration”
From Cognitive neuropsychological theory of antidepressant action: a modern-day approach to depression and its treatment (2021) · cites this paper as Mitchell 2006
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Glutamate Receptor Ion Channels: Structure, Regulation, and Function
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- Authors
- Mitchell, A. J.
- Affiliations
- Leicester General Hospital (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Mitchell, Alex J.
- ORCID
- Mitchell, Alex J.
- Venue
- British Journal of Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Royal College of Psychiatrists
- Published
- 2006-02
- Volume
- 188
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 105-106
- ISSN
- 0007-1250 (ISSN-L)
- 1472-1465
- OpenAlex
- W2131711107
- Cited by
- 82
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 6.05
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- The British Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Keywords
- antidepressants, antidepressant efficacy, mood ratings, response time, methodological issues, depression treatment
- MeSH terms
- Antidepressive Agents, Depressive Disorder, Humans, Time Factors, Treatment Outcome
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