Outcome of different types of long-term antidepressant treatments: a 3-year follow-up study of 14 182 patients

Background: Antidepressant efficacy studies are rare in large populations f or prolonged periods. Methods: The efficacy of antidepressants was investig ated by using disability pensions due to major affective disorders as the e fficacy variable from a large Finnish population (n = 14 182) during a 3-ye ar follow-up. Results: Of all males, 345 (6.0%) were receiving disability p ension due to major affective disorder, and of all females, 498 (5.9%). A l ogistic regression analysis showed a significantly higher risk (age-adjuste d ORs, 1.42-4.09) for disability pension in every antidepressant group exce pt the amitriptyline group when compared with fluoxetine group. Those who u sed a combination of antidepressive agents (age-adjusted OR 4.09) or moclob emide (age-adjusted OR 2.18) had the highest risks. Conclusions: In the stu dy population fluoxetine and amitriptyline were the most efficient antidepr essants in the long-term treatment of depression. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.