Antidepressants efficacy relative placebo

There have been five double-blind studies comparing the antidepressant efficacy of different SSRIs versus different TCAs in patients with HDRS scores of 25 or more (122, 123,124, 125 and 126). Three of these studies permitted inclusion of both inpatients and outpatients ( 122, 123 and 124), whereas the other two were solely done in outpatients (125, 126). Three were placebo-controlled (1.23, 125,126). In these three studies, the SSRI (i.e., fluvoxamine, paroxetine, or sertraline) was either superior to both the f CA and placebo or was comparable with the TCA and superior to placebo. In the other two studies, the SSRI was not different from the TCA and there was no placebo control. There have also been four studies and one metaanalysis of European clinical trials which found no difference in antidepressant efficacy between several different SSRIs and several different tertiary amine TCAs in patients hospitalized for major depression ( 127,128, 129,130 and 131). Finally, there have been two relatively small studies showing that fluoxetine and fluvoxamine both had antidepressant efficacy superior to placebo in patients with melancholia ( 132, 133). Another larger study failed to find a difference between paroxetine and amitriptyline in treating such patients ( 134). 

Most efficacy trials with reboxetine have so far only been published in review articles ( 178). Most of these articles did not have peer review and do not contain the full details concerning methodology or results. This fact limits the ability to accurately determine its relative efficacy and tolerability. In short-term (4 to 8 weeks), placebo-controlled clinical trials, reboxetine produced a response (defined as at least a 50% reduction in severity scores) in 56% to 74% of patients. These results were statistically superior to placebo in most studies. Reboxetine was also found to be as effective as imipramine and desipramine in four double-blind, randomized, active-controlled (but not placebo-controlled) studies involving more than 800 outpatients or inpatients with major depression. Reboxetine produced equivalent antidepressant response rates compared with fluoxetine in two clinical trials, one of which was also placebo-controlled. However, reboxetine was reported to have improved social motivation and behavior more than fluoxetine as assessed by the newly developed Social Adaptation Self-Evaluation Scale. In all of the studies, reboxetine had a similar time (i.e., 2 to 3 weeks) to onset of the antidepressant efficacy as do other antidepressants. 

Pediatric studies often have failed to show superiority of antidepressant drugs over placebo, particularly with older antidepressants but also with most SSRls, and the future of tricyclic antidepressant use in children is uncertain. Finally, evidence concerning clinical dose-response and dose-risk relationships is especially limited with the newer antidepressant drugs. Despite lack of consistency and convincingly demonstrated efficacy, the modern antidepressants have largely replaced the tricyclics as first-line options in children, adolescents, and the elderly, largely owing to their relative safety. 

Milnadpran is a rather newer SNRI licensed as an antidepressant in France. It is associated with clear-cut efficacy judged on the placebo-controlled studies [Lecrubier et al. 1996 Macher et al. 1989]. Milnacipran inhibits the reuptake of both noradrenaline and serotonin (Moret et al. 1985]. It has a relatively short half-life and is given optimally in a dose of 50 mg twice daily. The proportion of reuptake inhibition between serotonin and noradrenaline is approximately equal with this antidepressant, and so one would expect that milnacipran would be more effective than SSRIs, assuming the theory is correct that two actions are better than one. 

Reboxetine is a pure noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor that is licensed as an antidepressant in the United Kingdom. Reboxetine has established efficacy based on placebo-controlled studies both in the short and the long term. Previous noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors, such as desipramine, nortriptyline, and maprotiline, have been relatively selective for noradrenaline compared... 

These facts must be kept in mind when evaluating the efficacy data with this antidepressant. The best evidence supporting this warning is the recent approval of the sustained release version of bupropion. Three double-blind studies were done to support the submission of this formulation for approval. The FDA concluded that all three of these studies failed to show that the sustained release version of bupropion in the doses used (i.e., less than 450 mg per day) was superior to placebo in the treatment of outpatients with major depression (bupropion summary basis of approval). As a result, this formulation was approved on the basis of bioequivalence with the immediate release formulation. The FDA in its approval documents did not specify why it chose to approve this formulation without efficacy data. One possibility is that there are reasons to believe that the sustained release formulation is less likely to cause seizures than is the immediate release version at comparable doses. In contrast to these failed studies, two relatively small studies published in 1983 reported that immediate release bupropion at doses up to 600 mg per day was superior to placebo in the treatment of inpatients hospitalized for major depression (165, 166). 

ECT is superior in efficacy when compared with placebo, sham ECT, and active drug therapy. Upon the introduction of effective pharmacotherapy for severe depression, the relative efficacy of drug versus ECT was frequently studied. Our review of the relevant literature led to an extrapolation of the data from selected studies (primarily class I or II designs) for a quantitative analysis of the efficacy of ECT versus other treatments for an acute depressive episode ( 53). The comparisons with ECT included simulated (or sham) ECT, placebo, the standard tricyclic antidepressants, and the monoamine oxidase inhibitors [ Table 8-1 (54, 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59), Table 8 2 (0g 6i 62 and 63), Table 8-3 (56, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65 and 66), and Table 8-4 (55, 60, 61, 62 and 63)]. We also compared the relative efficacy of the bilateral versus the UNID forms of administration [Table 8-5 (42, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 and 78)]. A meta-analysis was... 

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first-line therapy for PTSD. Efficacy for fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline has been demonstrated in well-designed double-blind placebo-controlled studies to reduce all symptom domains (intrusive recollection, avoidance/numbness, and hyperarousal). - Other treatment options include the tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) amitriptyline and imipramine and the irreversible monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOl) phenelzine, which have been shown to reduce re-experiencing. However, in comparison with SSRIs, TCAs and phenelzine are associated with a higher incidence of side-effects, risk of overdose, and poor compliance. Alprazolam has demonstrated anecdotal efficacy however, regular use of benzodiazepines is not recommended. Benzodiazepines can be used on an as-needed basis for specific symptoms (e.g. sleep disturbances). CBT has shown beneficial effects in relatively well-controlled studies, while the results with exposure therapy are... 

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