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 .
Duloxetine in the treatment of major depressive disorder: a placebo- and paroxetine-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE Duloxetine doses of 80 and 120 mg/day were assessed for efficacy and safety in the treatment of major depressive disorder ( MDD ) . METHODS In this r and omized , double-blind trial , patients age > or = 18 meeting DSM-IV criteria for MDD were r and omized to placebo ( N=99 ) , duloxetine 80 mg/day ( N=93 ) , duloxetine 120 mg/day ( N=103 ) , or paroxetine 20 mg/day ( N=97 ) . The primary outcome measure was mean change from baseline in the 17-item Hamilton rating scale for depression ( HAMD(17 ) ) total score after 8 weeks of treatment ; a number of secondary efficacy measures also were assessed . Safety and tolerability were assessed via collection and analysis of treatment-emergent adverse events ( TEAEs ) , vital signs , and weight . The Arizona sexual experiences scale was used to assess sexual functioning . Patients who had a > or = 30 % reduction from baseline in the HAMD(17 ) total score  at the end of the acute phase entered a 6-month continuation phase where they remained on the same treatment as they had taken during the acute phase ; efficacy and safety/tolerability outcomes were assessed during continuation treatment . RESULTS More than 87 % of patients completed the acute phase in each treatment group . Duloxetine-treated patients ( both doses ) showed significantly greater improvement ( P<0.05 ) in the HAMD(17 ) total score at week 8 compared with placebo . Paroxetine was not significantly different from placebo ( P=0.089 ) on mean change on the HAMD(17 ) .  Duloxetine 120 mg/day also showed significant improvement on most secondary efficacy measures ( six of nine ) compared with placebo while duloxetine 80 mg/day ( three of nine ) and paroxetine ( three of nine ) were significantly superior to placebo on fewer secondary measures . HAMD(17 ) mean change data from this study and an identical sister study were pooled as defined a priori for the purpose s of performing a non-inferiority test versus paroxetine . Both duloxetine doses met statistical criteria for non-inferiority to paroxetine .  TEAE reporting rates were low in all treatment groups and no deaths occurred in the acute or continuation phases . CONCLUSIONS The efficacy of duloxetine at doses of 80 and 120 mg/day in the treatment of MDD was demonstrated . Tolerability , as measured by TEAEs , and safety were similar to paroxetine 20 mg/day and consistent with previous published data on duloxetine in the treatment of MDD
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 .