Relative antidepressant efficacy of venlafaxine and SSRIs: sex-age interactions
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether differences in antidepressant efficacy are moderated by an interaction of age and gender. METHODS: A pooled dataset from eight randomized, controlled trials of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) was reanalyzed to compare remission rates following therapy with venlafaxine (n = 851), one of several selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (n = 748), or placebo (n = 446). Remission was defined as a final Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) score < or =7. Pairwise comparisons were conducted using stepwise multiple logistic regression models with main effect and interaction terms for treatment, sex, and age (younger: <50; older: > or =50). Among older women, the impact of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on remission rates also was examined. RESULTS: Remission rates on venlafaxine therapy were not affected by age, sex, or HRT use. Among women, but not men, there was a significant interaction reflecting poorer SSRI response in the older age group (Wald chi-square = 4.21, df = 1, p = 0.04); HRT appeared to eliminate this difference. Whereas the advantage in remission rates favoring venlafaxine was modest for men and younger women (6%-9%), the difference among older women not taking HRT was 23%. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide further evidence that age, gender, and HRT moderate response to antidepressant medications.
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- Authors
- Thase, M. E., Entsuah, R., Cantillon, M., & Kornstein, S. G.
- Affiliations
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (US)
- Wyeth (US)
- Virginia Commonwealth University (US)
- ORCID
- Thase, Michael E.
- Venue
- Journal of Women s Health
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2005-09
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 609-616
- ISSN
- 1059-7115 (ISSN-L)
- 1540-9996
- 1931-843X
- OpenAlex
- W2088140775
- Cited by
- 201
- References
- 25
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 7.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Women s Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH30915)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Keywords
- venlafaxine, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, major depressive disorder, antidepressant efficacy, sex differences, age differences, hormone replacement therapy, remission, older women, treatment moderators
- MeSH terms
- Venlafaxine Hydrochloride, Adult, Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Analysis of Variance, Cyclohexanols, Depressive Disorder, Major, Major Depressive Disorder, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Remission Induction, Sex Factors, Time Factors, Estrogen Replacement Therapy, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
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