Abstract
BACKGROUND: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first-line treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD), but initial outcomes can be modest. AIMS: To compare SSRI dose optimisation with four alternative second-line strategies in MDD patients unresponsive to an SSRI. METHOD: Of 257 participants, 51 were randomised to SSRI dose optimisation (SSRI-Opt), 46 to lithium augmentation (SSRI+Li), 48 to nortriptyline combination (SSRI+NTP), 55 to switch to venlafaxine (VEN) and 57 to problem-solving therapy (SSRI+PST). Primary outcomes were week-6 response/remission rates, assessed by blinded evaluators using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17). Changes in HDRS-17 scores, global improvement and safety outcomes were also explored. EudraCT No. 2007-002130-11. RESULTS: Alternative second-line strategies led to higher response (28.2% v. 14.3%, odds ratio = 2.36 [95% CI 1.0-5.6], p = 0.05) and remission (16.9% v. 12.2%, odds ratio = 1.46, [95% CI 0.57-3.71], p = 0.27) rates, with greater HDRS-17 score reductions (-2.6 [95% CI -4.9 to -0.4], p = 0.021]) than SSRI-Opt. Significant/marginally significant effects were only observed in both response rates and HDRS-17 decreases for VEN (odds ratio = 2.53 [95% CI 0.94-6.80], p = 0.067; HDRS-17 difference: -2.7 [95% CI -5.5 to 0.0], p = 0.054) and for SSRI+PST (odds ratio = 2.46 [95% CI 0.92 to 6.62], p = 0.074; HDRS-17 difference: -3.1 [95% CI -5.8 to -0.3], p = 0.032). The SSRI+PST group reported the fewest adverse effects, while SSRI+NTP experienced the most (28.1% v. 75%; p < 0.01), largely mild. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with MDD and insufficient response to SSRIs would benefit from any other second-line strategy aside from dose optimisation. With limited statistical power, switching to venlafaxine and adding psychotherapy yielded the most consistent results in the DEPRE'5 study.