BACKGROUND: We evaluated and compared the efficacy and safety of sertraline and fluvoxamine in a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study during a follow-up of 24 months. METHOD: Sixty-four patients with recurrent, unipolar depression (DSM-IV criteria) who had at least one depressive episode during the 18 months preceding the index episode were accepted into the trial. Patients were randomly assigned to one of the two long-term treatment groups and evaluated monthly by trained psychiatrists, blinded to treatment option, on the basis of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. RESULTS: All patients completed the 24-month follow-up period. Sertraline and fluvoxamine showed an equal efficacy in preventing new recurrences. In fact, there was no significant difference in survival rates between the two medication groups: 7 sertraline-treated patients (21.9%) and 6 fluvoxamine-treated patients (18.7%) had a single new recurrence (z = 0.14; p = .88). Moreover, recurrence observed during maintenance therapies was less severe and/or of shorter duration than index episodes. CONCLUSION: Long-term treatment with sertraline or fluvoxamine has been shown to be effective for prevention of highly recurrent unipolar depression. The high tolerability of these compounds, together with their prophylactic effectiveness, has an important role in improving the quality of life of these patients.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: We evaluated and compared the efficacy and safety of sertraline and fluvoxamine in a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study during a follow-up of 24 months. METHOD: Sixty-four patients with recurrent, unipolar depression (DSM-IV criteria) who had at least one depressive episode during the 18 months preceding the index episode were accepted into the trial. Patients were randomly assigned to one of the two long-term treatment groups and evaluated monthly by trained psychiatrists, blinded to treatment option, on the basis of the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. RESULTS: All patients completed the 24-month follow-up period. Sertraline and fluvoxamine showed an equal efficacy in preventing new recurrences. In fact, there was no significant difference in survival rates between the two medication groups: 7 sertraline-treated patients (21.9%) and 6 fluvoxamine-treated patients (18.7%) had a single new recurrence (z = 0.14; p = .88). Moreover, recurrence observed during maintenance therapies was less severe and/or of shorter duration than index episodes. CONCLUSION: Long-term treatment with sertraline or fluvoxamine has been shown to be effective for prevention of highly recurrent unipolar depression. The high tolerability of these compounds, together with their prophylactic effectiveness, has an important role in improving the quality of life of these patients.
Authors: Ursula Reichenpfader; Gerald Gartlehner; Laura C Morgan; Amy Greenblatt; Barbara Nussbaumer; Richard A Hansen; Megan Van Noord; Linda Lux; Bradley N Gaynes Journal: Drug Saf Date: 2014-01 Impact factor: 5.606
Authors: Fokko J Bosker; Ben H C Westerink; Thomas I F H Cremers; Marjolein Gerrits; Marieke G C van der Hart; Sjoukje D Kuipers; Gieta van der Pompe; Gert J ter Horst; Johan A den Boer; Jakob Korf Journal: CNS Drugs Date: 2004 Impact factor: 5.749
Authors: Nicole L Cockayne; Shantel L Duffy; Rosalind Bonomally; Amelia English; Paul G Amminger; Andrew Mackinnon; Helen M Christensen; Sharon L Naismith; Ian B Hickie Journal: Trials Date: 2015-06-03 Impact factor: 2.279