title: Rapid onset of true antidepressant action.
abstract: Antidepressant medications generally are considered to have a delayed onset of action; however, recent evidence is beginning to challenge this conventional wisdom. Meta-analysis of placebo-controlled, randomized trials reveals that patients with depression are more likely to experience a clinically significant response with antidepressants than with placebo by the end of the first week of treatment. About one third of the total treatment benefit over 6 weeks is evident by the end of the first week. Early response to antidepressants is not necessarily a placebo response.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7JX, United Kingdom. matthew.taylor@psych.ox.ac.uk
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents