Response to an open trial of a second SSRI in major depression.
BACKGROUND
We evaluated the efficacy of a second serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) in patients who had failed to respond to the first SSRI used.


METHODS
Fifty-five patients with major depression who had failed one of the SSRIs for their current depressive episode were included. After failing a trial of one SSRI, they received a second SSRI in an open clinical trial.


RESULTS
On the basis of the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement scale, 28 of 55 patients had a marked or complete antidepressant response.


CONCLUSIONS
These data provide preliminary clinical evidence that substituting a second SRI may be a useful clinical alternative in depressed patients who fail to respond to an adequate trial of an SSRI.
Joffe
R T
RT
Department of Psychiatric, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Levitt
A J
AJ
Sokolov
S T
ST
Young
L T
LT
D015057:1-Naphthylamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016666:Fluvoxamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020280:Sertraline; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015057:1-Naphthylamine; D005473:Fluoxetine; D016666:Fluvoxamine; D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline