Psychosocial Characteristics and Non-pharmacological Intervention of Patients With Treatment-resistant Depression

Pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, effective management strategies for treatment-resistant depression are limited and yet to be developed. However, nursing interventions focusing on adherence enhancement, symptom reduction, and stress management may be strategic for a better disease management. This study aimed to define the rarely-studied concept of TRD under the cultural context of Taiwan and to identify new feasible and complementary treatment model from nursing perspectives. The project had established important basis on the descriptions of psychosocial features and need assessment of people with TRD over psychiatrist's validation. The findings also built up a cultural-specific non-pharmacological intervention module for effective TRD management in Taiwan. The nursing model of TRD management will further promote the development of integrative depression care in the future and complement current modalities, while providing important evidence-based information for future research and services.