Health · Mental Health · 1 day ago
Doctors reassess depression when antidepressants do not bring enough relief
A 32-year-old woman in Kerala, identified by a changed name, continued to have depression symptoms after taking medication for several weeks.
She is now receiving repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, or rTMS, which uses magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain involved in mood.
Doctors generally consider depression treatment-resistant when a person has not responded adequately to at least two antidepressants, each taken at an appropriate dose for around six to eight weeks.
Before reaching that conclusion, they check factors such as missed doses, side effects, other medicines and health conditions, and whether the diagnosis is correct.
Depending on a person’s response, doctors may adjust a dose, switch medicines, combine treatments or add psychotherapy.
Other options include ketamine or esketamine and, in some cases, electroconvulsive therapy; these require medical supervision.
The next step depends on the person’s symptoms, medical history and previous treatments.
A 32-year-old woman from Kerala, identified by the changed name Priya, continued to have depression symptoms after taking medication for several weeks and is now receiving repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).
Treatment-resistant depression is generally considered when a person has not responded adequately to at least two different antidepressants taken at appropriate doses for sufficient periods, usually six to eight weeks each.
An estimated 30% of people with major depressive disorder who have tried antidepressants may experience treatment-resistant depression.
Doctors are advised to check for factors such as missed doses, inadequate treatment duration, side effects, other diagnoses and coexisting health conditions before concluding that depression is treatment-resistant.
Possible next steps include adjusting or switching medication, combining medicines, adding psychotherapy, or considering treatments such as ketamine, esketamine, ECT or rTMS under medical supervision.
- Who
- Priya, a 32-year-old woman from Kerala, and doctors discussing treatment-resistant depression.
- What
- The article explains how doctors assess depression that has not responded to antidepressants and reviews other treatment options.
- When
- Published October 10, 2026.
- Where
- Kerala and Chennai, India.
- Why
- Some people continue to experience depression symptoms despite antidepressant treatment, prompting doctors to reassess their care.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Before reaching a conclusion of treatment-resistant depression, all other factors need to be assessed,
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Priya's age
- 32
- General threshold for treatment-resistant depression
- Inadequate response to at least two antidepressants, usually taken for six to eight weeks each
- Estimated share potentially affected
- 30% of people with major depressive disorder who have tried antidepressants
- India lifetime prevalence of depressive disorders among adults
- 5.25%, according to the National Mental Health Survey of India
- India current prevalence of depressive disorders among adults
- 2.68%, according to the National Mental Health Survey of India
Sources
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