title: Heuristic comparison of sertraline with nortriptyline for the treatment of depression in frail elderly patients.
abstract: Studies have demonstrated that the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants have similar efficacy to other agents, such as tricyclic antidepressants. However, data are limited for direct comparisons with other antidepressants. The authors conducted a contemporaneous comparison of nursing home residents treated with open-label sertraline in doses up to 100 mg/day with nursing home residents treated in a double-blind randomized study of low vs. regular doses of nortriptyline. There were 97 patients enrolled in the study (28 treated with sertraline), with an average treatment duration of 55 days. There were no differences in the tolerability of sertraline vs. nortriptyline. However, in this group of frail older adults, sertraline was not as effective as nortriptyline for the treatment of depression.
authors.affiliation: Section of Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA. oslin@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Oslin
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Streim
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: DiFilippo
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Ten Have
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology*; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009735:Nursing Homes; D020280:Sertraline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D009661:Nortriptyline; D020280:Sertraline