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How Should Primary Care Doctors Select Which Antidepressants to Administer?

  • Psychiatry in Primary Care (BN Gaynes, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Clinicians can choose among various second-generation antidepressants for treating depressive disorders, such as major depressive disorder, subsyndromal depression, or dysthymia. Systematic reviews indicate that available drugs differ in frequency of administration, costs, and the risks of some adverse events but have similar efficacy for treating major depressive disorder. Furthermore, evidence does not support the choice of one antidepressant over another based on accompanying symptoms, such anxiety, insomnia, or pain. Available studies provide little guidance for clinicians about the benefits of second-generation antidepressants for treating dysthymia and subsyndromal depression. Evidence is also unclear about the comparative risks of serious adverse events, such as suicidality, seizures, fractures, increased bleeding, or serotonin syndrome. This article summarizes the best available evidence regarding comparative benefits and harms of second-generation antidepressants for treating depressive disorders.

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Disclosure

Dr. Gartlehner has received research support from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Dr. Thaler has received research support from AHRQ.

Mr. Hill has received research support from AHRQ and Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH).

Dr. Hansen has received research support from AHRQ and FNIH, and has served as a consultant for Novartis and Takeda.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Evidence-based Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Danube University, Karl Dorrek-Straße 30, 3500, Krems, Austria

    Gerald Gartlehner & Kylie Thaler

  2. RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, USA

    Gerald Gartlehner

  3. Harrison School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy Care Systems, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA

    Seth Hill & Richard A. Hansen

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  1. Gerald Gartlehner
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  2. Kylie Thaler
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Correspondence to Gerald Gartlehner.

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Gartlehner, G., Thaler, K., Hill, S. et al. How Should Primary Care Doctors Select Which Antidepressants to Administer?. Curr Psychiatry Rep 14, 360–369 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-012-0283-x

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