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 .
Sertraline Treatment of Co-occurring Alcohol Dependence and Major Depression
Background : Major depressive disorder occurs commonly in association with alcohol dependence , both in clinical sample s and in the community . Efforts to treat major depressive disorder in alcoholics with antidepressants have yielded mixed results . This multicenter , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial of sertraline was design ed to address many of the potential method ological shortcomings of studies of co-occurring disorders . Method : Following a 1-week , single-blind , placebo lead-in period , 328 patients with co-occurring major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence were r and omly assigned to receive 10 weeks of treatment with sertraline ( at a maximum dose of 200 mg/d ) or matching placebo . R and omization was stratified , based on whether initially elevated scores on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale declined with cessation of heavy drinking , result ing in a sample of 189 patients with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores ≥17 ( group A ) and 139 patients with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores ≤16 ( group B ) . Results : Both depressive symptoms and alcohol consumption decreased substantially over time in both groups . There were no reliable medication group differences on depressive symptoms or drinking behavior in either group A or B patients . Conclusion : Despite careful attention to method ological considerations , this study does not provide consistent support for the use of sertraline to treat co-occurring major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence . The high rate of response among placebo-treated patients may help to explain these findings . Further research is needed to identify efficacious treatments for patients with these commonly co-occurring disorders
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 .