title: Meta-analytical studies on new antidepressants.
abstract: A systematic search found 108 meta-analyses of the use of antidepressants in depressive disorders. Defining newer antidepressants as those introduced since the early 1980s, 18 meta-analyses were selected as being informative about their relative efficacy and tolerability in comparative randomised controlled studies (RCTs). Findings with higher confidence include: little difference in efficacy between most new and old antidepressants; superior efficacy of serotonin and noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitors (SNRIs) over selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs); a slower onset of therapeutic action of fluoxetine over other SSRIs; a different side effect profile of SSRIs to TCAs with superior general tolerability of SSRIs over TCAs; poorer tolerability of fluvoxamine than other SSRIs in a within group comparison; no increased the risk of suicidal acts or ideation in fluoxetine compared with TCAs (or placebo) in low-risk patients. Findings with a lower level of confidence include: greater efficacy of TCAs than SSRIs in in-patients; greater efficacy of amitriptyline than SSRIs; better tolerability of moclobemide than TCAs; no demonstrable difference in tolerability between SSRIs and TCAs in the elderly; no better tolerability of fluvoxamine than TCAs; better tolerability of dothiepin (dosulepin) than SSRIs; better tolerability of sertraline and greater frequency of agitation on fluoxetine than other SSRIs in a within group comparison. In general, the meta-analyses were of uneven quality, as were the studies included, which limits the confidence in many of the results. Generalising from mostly short-term randomised controlled studies to clinical practice requires caution.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience and Psychiatry Unit, School of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, University of Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000657:Amoxapine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D008127:Lofepramine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D008803:Mianserin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000657:Amoxapine; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D008127:Lofepramine; D008803:Mianserin; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors