SSRIs significantly increase the risk of both serious and non-serious adverse events .
The potential small beneficial effects seem to be outweighed by harmful effects .
Background The evidence on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ) for major depressive disorder is unclear .
Methods Our objective was to conduct a systematic review assessing the effects of SSRIs versus placebo , ‘ active ’ placebo , or no intervention in adult participants with major depressive disorder .
A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled comparison of sertraline and dothiepin in the treatment of major depression in general practice
In a double-blind multi-centre study of general practice patients with DSM-III-R major depressive disorder , sertraline  ( 50 or 100 mg/day ) was compared with dothiepin ( 75 or 150 mg/day ) and with placebo . There were 83 , 96 and 90 patients evaluated in the respective treatment groups ; treatment lasted 6 weeks . Patients were assessed on the MADRS , CGI , and Leeds Self-rating Scales . Statistically significant differences ( p < 0.05 ) between sertraline and placebo were found on MADRS and CGI but not the Leeds Scales . In the mild subgroup analyses , there were no significant differences between sertraline and placebo . However , clear significant differences ( p < 0.05 ) between sertraline and placebo were present in the severe subgroup . Dothiepin failed to achieve a statistically significant difference from placebo on any analyses . Seventy-six per cent of patients were treated with 50 mg sertraline and 81 % of patients received 150 mg dothiepin . Both sertraline and dothiepin were generally well tolerated ; the most frequent side effects with sertraline were nausea , dizziness and headache ; with dothiepin the most frequent side effects were dry mouth , somnolence and headache
SSRIs significantly increase the risk of both serious and non-serious adverse events .
The potential small beneficial effects seem to be outweighed by harmful effects .
Background The evidence on selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ) for major depressive disorder is unclear .
Methods Our objective was to conduct a systematic review assessing the effects of SSRIs versus placebo , ‘ active ’ placebo , or no intervention in adult participants with major depressive disorder .