TY - JOUR
T1 - An open-label trial of sertraline for the treatment of major depression in primary care
AU - Taragano, Fernando
AU - Lyketsos, Constantine G.
AU - Paz, Joaquin
AU - Schapira, Moises
AU - Díaz, Enrique Comesana
AU - Klimovsky, Silvio
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by grants from CEMIC University and Pfizer Corporation. The authors appreciate the review and comments of James Merikan-gas, M.D.
PY - 1999
Y1 - 1999
N2 - Major depression is one of the most common medical disorders seen in primary care practice. Management frequently fails to meet recommended standards of treatment. For example, only a minority of patients are treated with antidepressants. The goals of this study were to establish the safety and effectiveness in the real world of a protocol-based pharmacological intervention administered by primary care physicians trained by psychiatrists. This was a naturalistic, open, 8-week, noncomparative, multicenter study of sertraline, 50-100 mg, in the treatment of 469 patients with mild-to-moderate major depression seen in primary care office settings. Effectiveness was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. The mean value of the HDRS declined steadily from 25.4 at baseline to 8.5 at day 56 (p < 0.0001). Fifty-two percent of patients achieved a full remission (HDRS <10 on day 56) and 70% had a positive response (50% reduction in HDRS scores). Only 26% had side effects, most of them mild. Major depression can be successfully diagnosed and treated by primary care physicians when adequately trained and supported by psychiatrists.
AB - Major depression is one of the most common medical disorders seen in primary care practice. Management frequently fails to meet recommended standards of treatment. For example, only a minority of patients are treated with antidepressants. The goals of this study were to establish the safety and effectiveness in the real world of a protocol-based pharmacological intervention administered by primary care physicians trained by psychiatrists. This was a naturalistic, open, 8-week, noncomparative, multicenter study of sertraline, 50-100 mg, in the treatment of 469 patients with mild-to-moderate major depression seen in primary care office settings. Effectiveness was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. The mean value of the HDRS declined steadily from 25.4 at baseline to 8.5 at day 56 (p < 0.0001). Fifty-two percent of patients achieved a full remission (HDRS <10 on day 56) and 70% had a positive response (50% reduction in HDRS scores). Only 26% had side effects, most of them mild. Major depression can be successfully diagnosed and treated by primary care physicians when adequately trained and supported by psychiatrists.
KW - Major depression
KW - Primary care
KW - Sertraline
KW - Treatment
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U2 - 10.1023/A:1022390314676
DO - 10.1023/A:1022390314676
M3 - Article
C2 - 10440523
AN - SCOPUS:0032874288
VL - 11
SP - 67
EP - 71
JO - Annals of Clinical Psychiatry
JF - Annals of Clinical Psychiatry
SN - 1040-1237
IS - 2
ER -