Efficacy of newer medications for treating depression in primary care patients

PURPOSE: Several medications have recently been introduced for the treatmen t of depression. We reviewed the literature to summarize their efficacy in the treatment of depression in adult patients in primary care settings. METHODS: We searched the literature published from 1980 to January 1998 usi ng the Cochrane Collaboration Depression Anxiety and Neurosis Group's speci alized registry of 8,451 clinical trials, references from trials and 46 per tinent meta-analyses, and consultation with experts. We included randomized controlled trials of at least 6 weeks' duration that measured clinical out comes and compared one of 32 newer medications with another newer antidepre ssant, an older antidepressant, a placebo, or a psychosocial intervention f or the treatment of depressed patients in primary care settings. The primar y outcome was response rate, defined as the proportion of patients experien cing a 50% or greater improvement in depressive symptoms. RESULTS: There were 28 randomized controlled trials involving 5,940 adult p rimary care patients with major depression, depression requiring treatment, dysthymia, or mixed anxiety depression. Newer agents, including selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, serotonin norepinephrine inhibitors, revers ible inhibitors of monoamine oxidase, and dopamine antagonists, were usuall y compared with tricyclic agents. Average response rates were 63% for newer agents, 35% for placebo, and 60% for tricyclic agents. Newer agents were s ignificantly more effective than placebo [risk ratio = 1.6; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.2 to 2.1), but similar to tricyclic agents (risk ratio = 1 .0; 95% CI 0.9 to 1.1). Response rates were similar in the different types of depressive disorders, except that two small trials in frail older patien ts showed no significant effects of newer agents compared with placebo. Dro pout rates as a result of adverse effects were 8% with newer agents and 13% with tricyclic agents (P <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In primary care settings, newer antidepressants are more effec tive than placebo and have similar efficacy compared with tricyclic agents in the acute treatment of depression. Dropout rates as a result of adverse effects are lower with newer compared with tricyclic agents. Future studies should compare the effectiveness of different therapies among primary care patients with less severe depression and greater medical and psychiatric c omorbidity. Am J Med. 2000;108:54-64. (C)2000 by Excerpca Medica, Inc.