“We were able to give an overall estimate of effectiveness for the first time in this more moderate severity range, from 14 to 20 on the scale, in which there’s no question that doctors would likely consider prescribing medication,” Dr. DeRubeis said. The researchers now claim that the effects of other popular SSRIs like Lexapro and Prozac will not be any different.
The authors observed that for people who had moderate depression, the drugs were no better than a sugar pill. Moreover these patients also developed a number of prominent side effects from the drugs.
“The message for patients with mild to moderate depression,” Dr. DeRubeis said, “is, ‘Look, medications are always an option, but there’s little evidence that they add to other efforts to shake the depression — whether it’s exercise, seeing the doctor, reading about the disorder or going for psychotherapy.’
JAMA Jan 2010
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