Improved health-related quality of life with SSRIs and other antidepressants.
OBJECTIVE
To document the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of depressed patients receiving antidepressant drugs.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Community pharmacy-based setting.


METHODS
Fifty-seven depressed patients.


METHODS
Independent pharmacist members of the Community Pharmacists Research Network in Georgia administered the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) to subjects.


RESULTS
Sixty-one percent of patients were treated with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and 38.6% were treated with a non-SSRI. Those receiving SSRIs scored higher on the mean physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) health summary scores of the SF-36 than those not receiving the drugs. No significant differences were seen in PCS or MCS scores of men and women.


CONCLUSIONS
Community pharmacists documented better HRQOL in patients receiving SSRIs than in those given other antidepressants.
Taylor
A T
AT
Department of Clinical and Administrative Sciences, University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, Athens, USA.
Spruill
W J
WJ
Longe
R L
RL
Wade
W E
WE
Wagner
P J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010595:Pharmacists; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors