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 .
Escitalopram in the acute treatment of depressed patients aged 60 years or older.
OBJECTIVE The present study examined the efficacy and tolerability of acute escitalopram treatment in depressed patients aged 60 years or older . METHODS Patients aged > or = 60 years with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Fourth Edition major depressive disorder were r and omized to 12 weeks of double-blind , flexible-dose treatment with escitalopram ( 10 - 20 mg/day ; N = 130 ) or placebo ( N = 134 ) . The prospect ively defined primary efficacy end point was change from baseline to week 12 in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale ( MADRS ) total score using the last observation carried forward approach . RESULTS A total of 109 ( 81 % ) patients in the placebo group and 96 ( 74 % ) patients in the escitalopram group completed treatment . Mean age in both groups was approximately 68 years . Mean baseline MADRS scores were 28.4 and 29.4 for the placebo and escitalopram treatment groups , respectively . Escitalopram did not achieve statistical significance compared with placebo in change from baseline on the MADRS ( least square mean difference : -1.34 ; last observation carried forward ) . Discontinuation rates result ing from adverse events were 6 % for placebo and 11 % for escitalopram . Treatment-emergent adverse events reported by > 10 % of patients in the escitalopram group were headache , nausea , diarrhea , and dry mouth . CONCLUSIONS Escitalopram treatment was not significantly different from placebo treatment on the primary efficacy measure , change from baseline to week 12 in MADRS . In patients aged 60 years or older with major depression , acute escitalopram treatment appeared to be well tolerated
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 .