title: A double-blind comparison of sertraline and fluoxetine in depressed elderly outpatients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There has been a paucity of well-designed studies comparing selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications in the treatment of depression in the elderly. This multicenter study was designed to examine the efficacy and safety of sertraline and fluoxetine in depressed elderly outpatients. A secondary objective was to examine the effects of SSRI treatment on quality of life and cognitive function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred thirty-six outpatients 60 years of age and older who met DSM-III-R criteria for major depressive disorder received 1 week of single-blind placebo before being randomly assigned to 12 weeks of double-blind, parallel-group treatment with flexible daily doses of either sertraline (range, 50-100 mg) or fluoxetine (range, 20-40 mg). Primary efficacy measures consisted of the 24-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and Clinical Global Impressions scale ratings. Secondary outcome assessments included clinician- and patient-rated measures of depression symptoms and factors, cognitive functioning, and quality of life, as well as plasma drug concentrations, which were correlated with clinical response.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both drugs produced a similarly positive response on the primary efficacy measures, with 12-week responder rates of 73% for sertraline and 71% for fluoxetine. Sertraline-treated patients showed statistically greater cognitive improvement on several measures. Both drugs were safe and well tolerated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data indicate that both drugs are effective antidepressants for the treatment of depressed elderly outpatients. Differences in cognitive performance effects deserve further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, USA. pnewhous@zoo.uvm.edu
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Newhouse
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Doraiswamy
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Batzar
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Clary
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020280:Sertraline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005473:Fluoxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline