Our systematic review in BMC Psychiatry concluded that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ) compared with placebo significantly increase the risk of serious adverse events ( SAEs ) in patients with major depression and the potential beneficial effects of SSRIs seem to be outweighed by the harms .
In their post-hoc analysis of our data , they reported that SSRIs only increase the risk of SAEs in elderly and seems safe for non-elderly patients .
Determination of the dose of agomelatine, a melatoninergic agonist and selective 5-HT2C antagonist, in the treatment of major depressive disorder: a placebo-controlled dose range study
Agomelatine ( S 20098 ) has a unique and new pharmacological profile . It is a melatoninergic agonist and selective antagonist of 5-HT2C receptors , and has been shown to be active in several animal models of depression . The aim of this study was to determine the active dose of agomelatine in the treatment of major depressive disorder ( DSM-IV criteria ) . The methodology used was a conventional double-blind design comparing three different doses of agomelatine ( 1 , 5 and 25 mg once a day ) with placebo over an 8-week treatment period . Paroxetine was used as the study validator . Seven hundred and eleven patients with a baseline mean score of 27.4 on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression ( HAM-D ) were included . On the pivotal analysis , the mean final HAM-D total score ( Full Analysis Set LOCF ) demonstrated agomelatine 25 mg to be statistically more effective than placebo . This was confirmed by other analyses and criteria ( responders , remission , sub population of severely depressed patients , Montgomery – Åsberg Depression Rating Scale , Clinical Global Impression-Severity of Illness ) . Agomelatine 25 mg alleviated the anxiety associated with depression , as measured on Hamilton Anxiety Scale .  Paroxetine was found to be effective on pivotal analysis and most of the secondary criteria used to vali date the study methodology and population . Agomelatine , whatever the dose , showed good acceptability with a side-effects profile close to that of placebo . In conclusion , this study demonstrates that agomelatine is efficient in the treatment of major depressive disorder and that 25 mg is the target dose
Our systematic review in BMC Psychiatry concluded that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ) compared with placebo significantly increase the risk of serious adverse events ( SAEs ) in patients with major depression and the potential beneficial effects of SSRIs seem to be outweighed by the harms .
In their post-hoc analysis of our data , they reported that SSRIs only increase the risk of SAEs in elderly and seems safe for non-elderly patients .