BACKGROUND: Despite a growing use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in older people, only one trial has examined their prophylactic efficacy in people aged 65 years and over. AIMS: To examine the efficacy of sertraline in preventing the recurrence of depression in older people living in the community. METHOD: Participants were openly treated with sertraline and then randomised into a double-blind, placebo-controlled continuation/maintenance study of about 2 years duration. Drug dosage was maintained at levels that achieved remission. RESULTS: No significant difference between the sertraline and placebo groups was found in the proportion of recurrences (-7.9%; 95% CI -28.06 to 12.23). Increased age and minor residual symptoms during the continuation phase were associated with recurrence. CONCLUSIONS:Sertraline at therapeutic dosage does not provide significant protection against recurrence.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: Despite a growing use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in older people, only one trial has examined their prophylactic efficacy in people aged 65 years and over. AIMS: To examine the efficacy of sertraline in preventing the recurrence of depression in older people living in the community. METHOD:Participants were openly treated with sertraline and then randomised into a double-blind, placebo-controlled continuation/maintenance study of about 2 years duration. Drug dosage was maintained at levels that achieved remission. RESULTS: No significant difference between the sertraline and placebo groups was found in the proportion of recurrences (-7.9%; 95% CI -28.06 to 12.23). Increased age and minor residual symptoms during the continuation phase were associated with recurrence. CONCLUSIONS:Sertraline at therapeutic dosage does not provide significant protection against recurrence.
Authors: Anthony J Rothschild; Boadie W Dunlop; David L Dunner; Edward S Friedman; Alan Gelenberg; Peter Holland; James H Kocsis; Susan G Kornstein; Richard Shelton; Madhukar H Trivedi; John M Zajecka; Corey Goldstein; Michael E Thase; Ron Pedersen; Martin B Keller Journal: Psychopharmacol Bull Date: 2009
Authors: Ellen Van Leeuwen; Mieke L van Driel; Mark A Horowitz; Tony Kendrick; Maria Donald; An Im De Sutter; Lindsay Robertson; Thierry Christiaens Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2021-04-15