Maintenance treatment with paroxetine, but not psychotherapy, prevented recurrent major depression in older people
Q In elderly patients with major depression who respond to treatment, does maintenance treatment with paroxetine, psychotherapy, or a combination thereof prevent recurrence of depression?
METHODS
Design:
randomised, 2 × 2 factorial design, placebo controlled trial.
Allocation:
concealed.*
Blinding:
blinded (clinicians, patients, and outcome assessors). Clinicians and patients were not blinded to the psychotherapy intervention.
Follow up period:
2 years.
Setting:
specialised university based clinic in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Patients:
116 patients ⩾70 years of age (mean age 77 y, 65% women) who had major depression according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) criteria, scores ⩾15 on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (range 0–52 [worst]), scores ⩾17 on the Folstein Mini Mental State Examination (range 0−30 [best]), and a sustained clinical response after several …
