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BMC Neurology
Published in: BMC Neurology 1/2010

Open Access 01-12-2010 | Research article

Efficacy and acceptability of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for the treatment of depression in Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Authors: Petros Skapinakis, Eleni Bakola, Georgia Salanti, Glyn Lewis, Athanasios P Kyritsis, Venetsanos Mavreas

Published in: BMC Neurology | Issue 1/2010

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Abstract

Background

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed antidepressants for the treatment of depression in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) but data on their efficacy are controversial.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to investigate the efficacy and acceptability of SSRIs in the treatment of depression in PD.

Results

Ten studies were included. In the comparison between SSRIs and Placebo (n = 6 studies), the combined risk ratio (random effects) was 1.08 (95% confidence interval: 0.77 - 1.55, p = 0.67). In the comparison between SSRIs and Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) (n = 3 studies) the combined risk ratio was 0.75 (0.39 - 1.42, p = 0.37). An acceptability analysis showed that SSRIs were generally well tolerated.

Conclusions

These results suggest that there is insufficient evidence to reject the null hypothesis of no differences in efficacy between SSRIs and placebo in the treatment of depression in PD. Due to the limited number of studies and the small sample sizes a type II error (false negative) cannot be excluded. The comparison between SSRIs and TCAs is based on only three studies and further trials with more pragmatic design are needed.
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Metadata
Title
Efficacy and acceptability of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for the treatment of depression in Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors
Petros Skapinakis
Eleni Bakola
Georgia Salanti
Glyn Lewis
Athanasios P Kyritsis
Venetsanos Mavreas
Publication date
01-12-2010
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Neurology / Issue 1/2010
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2377
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2377-10-49

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