The treatment of severe depression: Is there an efficacy gap between SSRI and TCA antidepressant generations?

Abstract

Reviews severe depression with respect to taxonomy and treatment responses, researching all available English-language literature in the MEDLINE database that compared the serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) with the tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) for treating severe depression. Methodological considerations of the literature search included statistical, population, placebo-controlled, and response criteria considerations. Most of the studies found that SSRIs and TCAs were equivalent in efficacy. However, only a few studies actually researched severely depressed inpatients. Further studies on the efficacy of SSRIs with severely depressed inpatients are needed to offer more guidance to clinicians in their drug treatment decisions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Accession Number: 1995-22537-001. PMID: 7961543 Other Journal Title: Diseases of the Nervous System. Partial author list: First Author & Affiliation: Nierenberg, Andrew A.; Massachusetts General Hosp Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, Depression Research Program, Boston, US. Release Date: 19950601. Correction Date: 20160919. Publication Type: Journal (0100), Peer Reviewed Journal (0110). Format Covered: Print. Document Type: Journal Article. Language: English. Conference Note: Factors to Consider in Selecting an Antidepressant Symposium (1994, Dallas, Texas). Major Descriptor: Antidepressant Drugs; Drug Therapy; Major Depression; Serotonin. Classification: Clinical Psychopharmacology (3340). Population: Human (10). Page Count: 5. Issue Publication Date: Sep, 1994.