Table 3.

Initial and next treatment strategies for depressive disorder between the Korean Medication Algorithm for Depressive Disorder 2017, 2012, and 2006

Depressive episode	Third revision (2017)		Second revision (2012)		First revision (2006)
	1st line	2nd line	1st line	2nd line	1st line	2nd line
Initial treatment strategy
Mild to moderate episode	AD monotherapy*	AD+AD	AD monotherapy*	AD+AD	AD monotherapy*	AD+AD
		AD+AAP		AD+AAP		AD+AUG
		AD+MS
Severe episode	AD monotherapy	AAP monotherapy	AD monotherapy	AD+AAP	AD monotherapy	AD+AD
				AAP monotherapy		AD+AAP
	AD+AAP	AD+AD				AD+AUG
		AD+MS		AD+AD
		ECT		ECT
Psychotic depression	AD+AAP*		AD+AAP*	AD+TAP	AD+AAP*	AD+TAP
				AAP monotherapy		ECT
						AD+AD
				ECT		AD+AUG
				AD+AD		AD monotherapy
				AD monotherapy		AAP monotherapy
2nd treatment strategy
Mild to moderate episode (No response)	Switching AD	AUG	Switching AD	Adding AAP	Switching AD	AUG
	Adding AD		Adding other AD	AUG	Adding other AD	Adding AAP
	Adding AAP
Severe episode (Partial response)	Adding AD	Switching AD	Adding other AD	AUG	Adding other AD	Switching AD
	Adding AAP	AUG	Adding AAP	Switching AD	AUG	Adding AAP
Psychotic depression (Inadequate response)	Switching AAP	Adding AAP	Adding other AD	Adding other AAP	Adding AAP	AUG
	Adding AD	AUG	Switching AAP		Switching AD
	Switching AD	Adding TAP	Switching AD	AUG	Adding other AD
				Adding TAP

AD, antidepressant; AAP, atypical antipsychotics; MS, mood stabilizer; AUG, augmenting drugs (buspirone, gabapentinm, ketamine, pindolol, psychostimulant, thyroid hormone, topiramate); ECT, electroconvulsive therapy; TAP, typical antipsychotics.

^*Treatment of choice, defined as an option that was rated at 9 points by 50% or more of the experts.