New Guide Helps People Select The Right Medication

Mental Health America works with AHRQ to disseminate new research findings

A new guide by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and reviewed by Mental Health America, is designed to help people work with their doctors or nurses to choose the right medications to treat their depression. “Antidepressant Medicines—A Guide for Adults with Depression,” available free of charge, covers common medicines for adults with depression, side effects and cost. For an electronic copy of this guide, visit http:// effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/ reports/topic.cfm?topic=8& sid=39&rType=1. For a free print copy, call the AHRQ Publications Clearinghouse at 800-358-9295 and ask for AHRQ Publication Number 07-EHC007-2A.

AHRQ’s Effective Health Care Program researches the outcomes and effectiveness of health care services and treatments, working closely with academic centers across the country to bring together existing data, conduct original research, and help the public learn about current available research. AHRQ’s John M. Eisenberg Center at the Oregon Health and Science University puts the research into short, consumer-friendly guides that can be used by consumers and clinicians. The guides convey findings about effectiveness, safety and drug costs. The Center convenes consumer focus groups for input into these guides, including Mental Health America.

AHRQ has also established a Stakeholder Group that represents consumers, clinicians, academia, health plans and medical technology manufacturers. The Stakeholder Group provides input on Effective Health Care Program research questions, methodologies and dissemination strategies, often invites the public and consumers to provide comments on research questions, draft documents and research topics at http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov.