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 .
Noradrenaline-selective versus serotonin-selective antidepressant therapy: differential effects on social functioning.
The outcome of antidepressant therapy in terms of social functioning was evaluated in a r and omized , placebo-controlled , double-blind study comparing the selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor ( NARI ) , reboxetine , with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor ( SSRI ) fluoxetine . Of the 381 patients with major depression participating in the study , 302 patients were assessed using the new self-rating Social Adaptation Self-evaluation Scale ( SASS ) . Mean SASS total score at last assessment was superior ( p < 0.05 ) to placebo for both reboxetine and fluoxetine . Moreover , reboxetine was superior ( p < 0.05 ) to fluoxetine . Evaluation of the sensitivity to change in individual items by point-biserial correlation analysis showed a significant correlation between improvement in item score and reboxetine treatment in all but one item for the reboxetine-placebo comparison . In the fluoxetine-placebo comparison , a significant correlation was evident for only 12 of the 21 items . Direct comparison of reboxetine with fluoxetine revealed a significant correlation between change in item score and treatment for nine items , in favour of reboxetine . The association was maximal for six items , mainly related to negative self-perception and to active social behaviour . In the subset of patients in remission at last assessment ( n = 91 ) , the mean SASS total score for reboxetine was superior to that of both fluoxetine and placebo ( p < 0.05 ) . Point-biserial correlation analysis revealed that most items sensitive to change under active treatment in the total population did so with reboxetine ( 17 items ) or fluoxetine ( nine items ) in patients in remission . In the reboxetine-fluoxetine comparison , 14 items showed a significant association with reboxetine treatment . In conclusion , while social motivation and behaviour in depression are significantly affected by both noradrenergic and serotonergic antidepressant treatment , noradrenergic therapy seems particularly effective in improving negative self-perception and motivation towards action , result ing in a better quality of remission in terms of social functioning
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 .