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 randomized, double-blind study of the efficacy and tolerability of extended-release quetiapine fumarate (quetiapine XR) monotherapy in patients with major depressive disorder
Objectives To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of once-daily extended release quetiapine fumarate ( quetiapine XR ) monotherapy in patients with major depressive disorder ( MDD ) . Patients and methods This was a 10-week ( 8-week active treatment/2-week post-treatment ) r and omized , double-blind , placebo- and active-controlled study ( D1448C00004 ) . Patients received quetiapine XR 150 mg/day , escitalopram 10 mg/day , or placebo ; patients with an inadequate response ( < 20 % improvement in Montgomery – Åsberg Depression Rating Scale [ MADRS ] total score ) at week two received double-dose treatment . The primary end point was week eight change from r and omization in MADRS total score . Secondary end points included MADRS response ( ≥50 % improvement ) and remission ( score ≤8 ) ; Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression total and item 1 ; Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety total , psychic , and somatic ; Clinical Global Impressions – Severity of Illness total ; Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index ( PSQI ) global ; and Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Question naire – Short Form percentage maximum total scores . Tolerability was assessed throughout . Results A total of 471 patients was r and omized . No significant improvements in MADRS total score were observed at week eight ( last observation carried forward ) with either active treatment ( quetiapine XR , −17.21 [ P=0.174 ] ; escitalopram , −16.73 [ P=0.346 ] ) versus placebo ( −15.61 ) . There were no significant differences in secondary end points versus placebo , with the exception of week-eight change in PSQI global score  ( quetiapine XR , −4.96 [ P<0.01 ] versus placebo , −3.37 ) . Mixed-model repeated- measures analysis of observed-case data suggested that the primary analysis may not be robust . Most commonly reported adverse events included dry mouth , somnolence , and dizziness for quetiapine XR , and headache and nausea for escitalopram . Conclusion In this study , neither quetiapine XR ( 150/300 mg/day ) nor escitalopram ( 10/20 mg/day ) showed significant separation from placebo . Both compounds have been shown previously to be effective in the treatment of MDD ; possible reasons for this failed study are discussed . Quetiapine XR was generally well tolerated , with a profile similar to that reported previously
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 .