title: Acute therapy of depression.
abstract: The acute therapy (the initial 8 weeks of treatment) of depression (including the whole spectrum of "less than major," "major," and "more than major") has been reviewed comparing the old tricyclics with the new generations (especially mianserin, moclobemide, and the serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), i.e., citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, and sertraline). The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression has been used to measure clinical efficacy. Statistically, the method of meta-analysis has been applied. The results showed that the SSRIs and moclobemide are equal to the tricyclics. Mianserin is inferior to tricyclics as well as to SSRIs. The antidepressive profile of the SSRIs is nonsedation but still with anxiolytic effects. The safety profile of the SSRIs is much more benign than that of the tricyclics.
authors.affiliation: Frederiksborg General Hospital Psychiatric Institute, Hillerod, Denmark.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bech
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001549:Benzamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008376:Maprotiline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D020912:Moclobemide; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009627:Nomifensine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D001549:Benzamides; D008376:Maprotiline; D020912:Moclobemide; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D009627:Nomifensine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors