explanation In the last decade several new antidepressants have been launched, making a total of over 20 antidepressants available for use in the Netherlands. How to apply this arsenal of compounds  properly in the treatment of our patients with mood disorders? In this session new insights will be  presented into the differences in efficacy, and into next steps after failure of the first choice. On the  basis of pharmacological differences between antidepressants, current hypotheses of the mechanisms  of action will be discussed and explanations will be provided to understand differences in the emergence of side-effects. The presence of new knowledge obliges us to use this knowledge to guide  our choices for the optimal treatment.
aim After this session participants will have improved their knowledge about the most important new insights in the differences between antidepressants with regard to first choice, nextstep pharmacological strategies, mechanisms of action, and side-effects.