Some statistically significant differences between citalopram and other antidepressants for the acute phase treatment of major depression were found in terms of efficacy , tolerability and acceptability .
Citalopram was more efficacious than paroxetine and reboxetine and more acceptable than tricyclics , reboxetine and venlafaxine , however , it seemed to be less efficacious than escitalopram .
BACKGROUND Recent US and UK clinical practice guidelines recommend that second-generation antidepressants should be considered amongst the best first-line options when drug therapy is indicated for a depressive episode .
Systematic review s have already highlighted some differences in efficacy between second-generation antidepressants .
Citalopram , one of the first selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRI ) introduced in the market , is one of these antidepressant drugs that clinicians use for routine depression care .
OBJECTIVES To assess the evidence for the efficacy , acceptability and tolerability of citalopram in comparison with tricyclics , heterocyclics , other SSRIs and other conventional and non-conventional antidepressants in the acute-phase treatment of major depression .
Clinical response augments NK cell activity independent of treatment modality: a randomized double-blind placebo controlled antidepressant trial.
BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder ( MDD ) has been associated with alterations in immune function . Suppression of natural killer ( NK ) cell activity ( NKCA ) reliably characterizes immunological alterations observed in MDD . Antidepressant pharmacotherapy has been associated with modulation of NKCA . Previous investigations into antidepressant modulation of NKCA have not employed r and omized double-blind placebo controlled design s. Thus , it is unknown whether treatment-associated changes in immune function are due to drug , placebo , or spontaneous remission effects . The present investigation examined the effect of antidepressant treatment on NKCA utilizing a r and omized double-blind placebo controlled experimental design . METHOD Patients ( N = 16 ) met DSM-IV criteria for MDD and were r and omly assigned to drug ( N = 8 ; citalopram , 20 mg/day ) or placebo ( N = 8) under double-blind conditions . Severity and pattern of depressive symptoms were assessed by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale ( HDRS ) . NK cell function was measured using a st and ard chromium-release assay and NK cell number assessed by flow cytometry . HDRS scores , NK cell function , and NK cell numbers were collected at 0 , 1 , 2 and 4 weeks of treatment . RESULTS Clinical response was associated with augmented NKCA independent of treatment condition . Failure to respond to treatment result ed in significantly reduced NKCA over treatment interval . CONCLUSIONS The present results suggest that alterations in the depressive syndrome , regardless of therapeutic modality , may be sufficient to modulate NKCA during antidepressant trials and thus may significantly impact on co-morbid health outcomes in MDD
Some statistically significant differences between citalopram and other antidepressants for the acute phase treatment of major depression were found in terms of efficacy , tolerability and acceptability .
Citalopram was more efficacious than paroxetine and reboxetine and more acceptable than tricyclics , reboxetine and venlafaxine , however , it seemed to be less efficacious than escitalopram .
BACKGROUND Recent US and UK clinical practice guidelines recommend that second-generation antidepressants should be considered amongst the best first-line options when drug therapy is indicated for a depressive episode .
Systematic review s have already highlighted some differences in efficacy between second-generation antidepressants .
Citalopram , one of the first selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRI ) introduced in the market , is one of these antidepressant drugs that clinicians use for routine depression care .
OBJECTIVES To assess the evidence for the efficacy , acceptability and tolerability of citalopram in comparison with tricyclics , heterocyclics , other SSRIs and other conventional and non-conventional antidepressants in the acute-phase treatment of major depression .