Date of Award

2012

Degree Type

Selective Evidence-Based Medicine Review

Degree Name

Master of Science in Health Sciences - Physician Assistant

Department

Physician Assistant Studies

Department Chair

John Cavenagh, PhD, PA-C

Abstract

OBJECTIVE The objective of this selective EBM review is to determine whether or not anti depressants are effective in the treatment of depressed patients who do not seek psychotherapy.

STUDY DESIGN: Review of all English language primary randomized controlled trials published from 2000-2009.

DATA SOURCES: Three randomized controlled trials were found using OVID, Medline, EbscoHost, Pubmed, and Cochrane databases.

OUTCOMES MEASURED: The three trials measured the change in the severity of depression symptoms using different outcomes: The Montgomery Asburg Depression Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and Hopkins Symptom Checklist Depression Scale.

RESULTS: Hermens et al. found that the use of usual care and paroxetine is no more effective than usual care at fifty-two weeks. Barrett et al. found that paroxetine is no more effective than placebo in the treatment of depression at eleven weeks. Williams et al. found that paroxetine is more effective than placebo in decreasing depressive symptoms, in older adults, at eleven weeks.

CONCLUSIONS: The work of Hermens and Barrett demonstrated that paroxetine is no more effective than usual care in the treatment of depression within the general population. Williams RCT’s demonstrates that paroxetine may be effective in the treatment of depression in older adults.

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