SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS (SSRIS) IN THE TREATMENT OF ELDERLY DEPRESSED-PATIENTS - A QUALITATIVE-ANALYSIS OF THE LITERATURE ON THEIR EFFICACY AND SIDE-EFFECTS

A qualitative analysis of studies on the efficacy and side-effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for the treatment of e lderly people with depression is presented. Only placebo-controlled or comparison studies of SSRI versus other antidepressants were included . The description and methodological quality of the analysed studies w ere important criteria in the outcome of the analysis. Quality was ass essed by means of a blinded review approach. After excluding duplicate publications, 16 studies were analysed, of which six turned out to be of good quality. The results indicated that at the end of the treatme nt periods (4-8 weeks) all antidepressants were equally effective. Sid e-effects occurred less frequently with SSRIs than with tricyclics (TC As), and different side-effect profiles were found. Significantly fewe r SSRI-treated patients than TCA-treated patients dropped out both ove rall and due to side-effects.