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Antidepressant Efficacy and Safety of Low-Dose Sertraline and Standard-Dose Imipramine for the Treatment of Depression in Older Adults: Results From a Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2005

Orestes V. Forlenza ,
Osvaldo P. Almeida ,
Alberto Stoppe ,
Edson S. Hirata  and
Rita C. R. Ferreira
Orestes V. Forlenza
Affiliation:
Instituto de Psiquiatria do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
Osvaldo P. Almeida
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science, University of Western Australia, Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Perth, Australia.
Alberto Stoppe
Affiliation:
Instituto de Psiquiatria do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
Edson S. Hirata
Affiliation:
Instituto de Psiquiatria do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
Rita C. R. Ferreira
Affiliation:
Instituto de Psiquiatria do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
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Abstract

This study compared the efficacy and tolerability of 150 mg/day imipramine and 50 mg/day sertraline for the treatment of a major depressive episode (DSM-IV) in older adults (N = 55) in an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial. Intention-to-treat analysis (last observation carried forwards) showed a reduction of 50% or more on the baseline scores of the Montgomery-Åsberg Rating Scale (MADRS) in 60.7% and 55.6% of patients receiving imipramine and sertraline, respectively (p = .698). Full remission of symptoms (MADRS < 9) was observed in 50.0% and 51.8% of patients, respectively (p = .891). Side effects were more frequent among patients treated with imipramine (86.7%) than among patients treated with sertraline (42.1%) (p = .008). Dropout rates were high in both groups (46.4% and 29.6% respectively, p = .200). These results indicate that imipramine and sertraline are equally effective for the treatment of major depression in later life, although adverse reactions are more frequent among subjects treated with imipramine than with sertraline.

Type
Articles
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 13 , Issue 1 , March 2001 , pp. 75 - 84
Copyright
© 2001 International Psychogeriatric Association

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