Introduction: Early Onset of Antidepressant Action

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Early onset of antidepressant action is a relevant topic, as evident from the advantages an "early" onset of action might offer. Most notably, a shorter time to antidepressant action would reduce the personal and financial toll of the disorder by decreasing patients’ time in distress, lost time from work, and the time the impairment affects family and friends. An efficacious and well-tolerated antidepressant with an earlier onset of action relative to similarly effective and well-tolerated medications would yield considerable benefits to the health care system.