This study discusses the diagnosis and treatment of depressive disorders, including (but not limited to) major depressive disorder, severe depression, melancholic depression, and endogenous depression. They also compared the efficacy of both SSRIs and TCAs (tricyclic antidepressants). However, it was hard to directly compare the two, as there is no optimal dose for SSRIs, despite the defined optimal dose existing for TCAs.

Both treatment options also have a risk of discomforting side effects, such as (but not limited to): vomiting, dry mouth, and constipation. Altogether, there was not a significant difference in efficacy and adverse reactions between TCAs and SSRIs, but it was acknowledged that more severe subtypes of depressive disorder were more responsive to higher doses.