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Cited by 74Treatment of Major DepressionMental Health Treatment and AccessAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Older community residents with depression: long-term treatment with sertraline: Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Open access
Wilson, K. C. M., Mottram, P. G., Ashworth, L., Abou-Saleh, M. T.·2003·British Journal of Psychiatry
DOI 10.1192/bjp.182.6.492
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Abstract

Background: Despite a growing use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in older people, only one trial has examined their prophylactic efficacy in people aged 65 years and over. Aims: To examine the efficacy of sertraline in preventing the recurrence of depression in older people living in the community. Method: Participants were openly treated with sertraline and then randomised into a double-blind, placebo-controlled continuation/maintenance study of about 2 years duration. Drug dosage was maintained at levels that achieved remission. Results: No significant difference between the sertraline and placebo groups was found in the proportion of recurrences (–7.9%; 95% CI –28.06 to 12.23). Increased age and minor residual symptoms during the continuation phase were associated with recurrence. Conclusions: Sertraline at therapeutic dosage does not provide significant protection against recurrence.

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  • Wilson 2003 reported 2/57 (3.5%) discontinuation and 2/56 (3.6%) continuation participants experienced adverse events necessitating discontinuation.

    “Wilson 2003 (n = 113) reported that 2 of 57 (3.5%) participants in remission of a first depression in the discontinuation group experienced adverse events that necessitated discontinuation compared to 2 of 56 (3.6%) participants treated with antidepressants.”

    From Approaches for discontinuation versus continuation of long-term antidepressant use for depressive and anxiety disorders in adults (2021) · cites this paper as Wilson 2003

    The Study sample section reports 56 participants assigned to sertraline and 57 to placebo, matching the claim’s group sizes. However, the passages in our copy do not report two adverse-event-related discontinuations in either group; searches for adverse events and reasons for withdrawal did not establish those counts. (LLM, conf=0.78)

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  • The five long-term trials that failed to show superiority involved tricyclic antidepressants, SSRIs, milnacipran, and Hypericum perforatum.

    “These failed trials involved antidepressants such as tricyclic antidepressants (Maj et al., 1992), SSRIs (Wilson et al., 2003; Reynolds et al., 2006), the anxiolytic SNRI milnacipran (Rouillon et al., 2000), and a preparation of the plant Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s Wort; Kasper et al., 2008).”

    From Prevention of Relapse and Recurrence in Adults with Major Depressive Disorder: Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses of Controlled Trials (2016) · cites this paper as Wilson et al., 2003

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Authors
Wilson, K. C. M., Mottram, P. G., Ashworth, L., & Abou-Saleh, M. T.
Affiliations
University of Liverpool (GB)
Corresponding author
Wilson, K. C. M.
ORCID
Wilson, K. C. M.
Venue
British Journal of Psychiatry
Publisher
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Published
2003-06
Volume
182
Issue
6
Pages
492-497
ISSN
  • 0007-1250 (ISSN-L)
  • 1472-1465
DOI
10.1192/bjp.182.6.492
OpenAlex
W2267903572
Semantic Scholar
8aedc5f19a31a7396813761a10943d90fd2e90d9
Cited by
74
References
24
Citations by year
2025: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 6
FWCI
4.17
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 5329 d)
Locations
  • The British Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
sertraline, depression, older adults, depression recurrence, prophylaxis, continuation treatment, maintenance therapy, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, community-dwelling older adults, residual symptoms, age as risk factor
MeSH terms
Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Antidepressive Agents, Depressive Disorder, Double-Blind Method, Drug Administration Schedule, Female, Humans, Male, Patient Compliance, Recurrence, Regression Analysis, Treatment Outcome, Sertraline

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