Effects of Prior Antidepressant Use on Late-Life Treatment

A new study in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry examines the correlates of prior antidepressant exposure and how such treatment affects response to antidepressant treatment in later life. Researchers divided 193 elderly patients into 3 groups based on prior antidepressant treatment: those “not treated” in the past (TN); a “treatment inadequate” group (TI), and a group comprising those with “treatment-resistant” depression (TRD). All patients received interpersonal psychotherapy and paroxetine plus pharmacologic augmentation as needed. TRD patients took longer to respond (13 weeks) than TI or TN patients (7.6 and 8 weeks, respectively). Response rates for TRD and TI patients were lower (67% and 71%) than for TN patients (86%).
http://ajgponline.org/cgi/content/abstract/14/11/957

-LS