MDD is diagnosed using standardized clinical criteria that consider symptom duration, severity, and functional impact. Trazodone was approved by the FDA for MDD in 1981 and remains an option, though it is prescribed for depression less often today than newer-generation antidepressants, partly because of its sedating profile at antidepressant doses.
Major depressive disorder (MDD)
Also called: Clinical depression
A mood disorder involving persistent sadness or loss of interest that interferes with daily functioning. MDD is the only condition for which trazodone carries formal FDA approval.