title: Paroxetine is better than placebo in relapse prevention and the prophylaxis of recurrent depression.
abstract: In an investigation of the efficacy of paroxetine in relapse prevention and prophylaxis of depression, patients who met DSM-III-R criteria for major depression with a history of two or more previous episodes in the preceding four years and who had responded to eight weeks treatment with paroxetine, were randomized double-blind to receive either paroxetine 20-30 mg or placebo for one year. One hundred and seventy-two patients entered open treatment of whom 141 completed eight weeks treatment. One hundred and thirty-five responders entered the double-blind placebo-controlled study. There was a significant advantage for paroxetine compared with placebo in the reappearance of depression (p < 0.01) and in the time to reappearance (p < 0.001) over the one-year study. A significant advantage was seen for paroxetine compared with placebo in the first four months in relapse prevention (p < 0.01) and in the time to relapse (p < 0.005), and in the later period of treatment in preventing recurrence in the time to recurrence (p < 0.05). Paroxetine was effective in preventing the reappearance of depression following an acute illness. These results confirm the benefit of long-term pharmacotherapy for treating depressive illness.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Psychiatry, London, UK.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Montgomery
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dunbar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017374:Paroxetine