A 41-year-old woman presents to an outpatient mental health clinic on referral by her family physician. She has complaints, signs, and symptoms indicative of a major depressive episode with melancholic features

A 41-year-old woman presents to an outpatient mental health clinic on referral by her family physician. She has complaints, signs, and symptoms indicative of a major depressive episode with melancholic features. She has undergone treatment for alcoholism within the last year. She is experiencing severe family stressors, namely, her children have moved out of the home. She is already receiving antidepressant therapy, mirtazapine, prescribed by her family physician, without improvement, and complains of weight gain as a side effect.

To be answered

1)Symptoms; List two pertinent signs and symptoms

2)Recommended Drugs: Provide list of recommended drugs as indicated for this diagnosis

3)Drug Categories and Subcategories: Identify the category of each recommended drug

4)Choose one drug of choice

5)Rationale: Provide rationale, clinical guidelines, or evidence for the selected drug of choice

6)Contraindications and/ or Risks, as appropriate: Identify contraindications and risks as appropriate

7)What Patients Must Understand: Identify at least three appropriate teaching points for the patient and/or family