Research on accelerating the response to antidepressants has focused attention on the possibility of fast-acting antidepressants. A major advance has been the development of methodology for identifying rapid-response antidepressants. Such antidepressants are likely to be widely used in the future and should bring considerable relief to sufferers and to the community. How rapid the action of these drugs will be is not yet clear. Careful methodology and well conducted studies are needed to clarify the issues involved.