Review of clinical use of sertraline by family practice physicians in a small Air Force hospital.
The clinical use of sertraline for 1 year in a family practice clinic in a small Air Force hospital was reviewed. Retrospective chart review showed that 85% of patients receiving five or more prescriptions for sertraline had a diagnosis of depression; the remainder were treated for chronic pain or dysthymia. The patients in the review needed dose increases (above the recommended starting dose of 50 mg qd) in nearly 50% of the cases. Clinicians using sertraline for the treatment of affective illness in the primary care setting should be aware of the likelihood for dose increases to achieve maximal clinical benefit.
Bourgeois
J A
JA
60th Medical Group (SGOHN), David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, CA 94535, USA.
D015057:1-Naphthylamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005194:Family Practice; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020280:Sertraline; D014481:United States
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015057:1-Naphthylamine; D020280:Sertraline