antidepressant therapy in the elderly
TRANSCRIPT
18 THERAPY
The results of a study by the Old Age Depression Interest Group suggest that medication should be continued for at least 2 years after recovery from an index episode in those elderly patients who are suitable for monotherapy with tricyclic antidepressants.
The authors suggest that these findings support the argument for recommending indefinite continuation of antidepressant therapy in these patients. The 2-year trial showed that patients taking dothiepin were 2.5 times more likely to remain well than those patients taking placebo. Old Age Depression Inten:st Group. How 10lIl sbouId Ibc: elderly take antidepressants? A double-blind pIacebo-roolrOlIed study of contiDlWioalpropbylaxis therapy with dotbiepin. British Journal of Psyc:bWry 162: 17S-182. Feb 1993 100'.19