Sertraline versus other antidepressive agents for depression
Citation: Cipriani A., La Ferla T., Furukawa T.A., et al. Sertraline versus other antidepressive agents for depression. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2010, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD006117. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006117.pub4
Current evidence shows sertraline as initial choice of antidepressive agents in individuals suffering acute major depression
Depression is the fourth leading cause of disease burden worldwide and is expected to show a rising trend over the next 20 years. Although pharmacological and psychological interventions are both effective for major depression, antidepressant drugs remain the mainstay of treatment. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) including Sertraline have become the most commonly prescribed antidepressants over the last 20 years. This review assessed the evidence for the efficacy, acceptability and tolerability of sertraline in comparison with all other antidepressants in the acute‐phase treatment of major depression. Fifty‐nine randomised controlled trials (about 10,000 participants) were included in the review. Evidence showed differences in efficacy, acceptability and tolerability between sertraline and other antidepressants, with meta‐analyses highlighting a trend in favour of sertraline over other antidepressants. However, the outcomes of clear relevance to patients and clinicians, in particular patients and their carers’ attitudes to treatment, their ability to return to work and resume normal social functioning, were not reported in the included studies.