After having corrected for these apparent mistakes , we conducted a sensitivity analysis in which we also accounted for a possible moderating effect of age ; while this suggests SSRIs to be safe drugs in the non-elderly , they do confirm what is already known , that is , that they may enhance the risk for SAEs in the old .
According to a systematic review on the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ) in adult depression that was recently published in BMC Psychiatry , the results of which have been widely disseminated in lay media , these drugs increase the risk for serious adverse events ( SAEs ) while exerting poor antidepressant efficacy .
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
After having corrected for these apparent mistakes , we conducted a sensitivity analysis in which we also accounted for a possible moderating effect of age ; while this suggests SSRIs to be safe drugs in the non-elderly , they do confirm what is already known , that is , that they may enhance the risk for SAEs in the old .
According to a systematic review on the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRIs ) in adult depression that was recently published in BMC Psychiatry , the results of which have been widely disseminated in lay media , these drugs increase the risk for serious adverse events ( SAEs ) while exerting poor antidepressant efficacy .