Comparative efficacy of sertraline vs. fluoxetine in patients age 70 or over with major depression

Using data from a larger 12-week clinical trial, the authors evaluated the comparative efficacy and safety, of sertraline (n = 42) and fluoxetine (n = 33) in patients otter age 70 with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder . Similar improvement on measures of depression, including remission of dep ressive symptoms, was evident, although significantly more sertraline-treat ed patients achieved a criterion clinical response. Significantly, greater improvement for the sertraline group was apparent on the Digit Symbol Subst itution Test, but not on two other measures of cognitive functioning. Altho ugh there was no difference in the rate of adverse events experienced,fluox etine-treated patients lost significantly more body weight over the 12-week trial than did sertraline-treated patients, whereas the latter group exhib ited significantly more "shaking."