In a new study from the University of Cologne, researchers found combinations of antidepressants are associated with superior treatment outcomes compared with monotherapy for adults with acute depression.
They did a systematic literature review to compare combinations of antidepressants with antidepressant monotherapy in adults with depression.
In a meta-analysis based on data from 39 studies (6,751 patients), the team found that combination treatment was strongly linked to superior treatment outcomes versus monotherapy.
The combination of a reuptake inhibitor and an antagonist of presynaptic α2-autoreceptors was superior to other combinations. Combinations with bupropion were not superior to monotherapy.
All treatments had similar numbers of dropouts and dropouts due to adverse events.
Results remained robust across prespecified secondary outcomes and sensitivity and subgroup analyses.
The team says combination therapy using an antagonist of presynaptic α2-autoreceptors may be an effective and safe antidepressant treatment option for patients.
This is true especially for people who are non-responders to monotherapy and who experience severe depression.
If you care about depression, please read studies about women with this health problem twice as likely to suffer depression, and newer drugs for depression may increase death risk.
For more information about mental health, please see recent studies about nutrient in your diet that may help fight depression and results showing the world’s first test to accurately predict depression and bipolar disorder.
The study is published in JAMA Psychiatry and was conducted by Jonathan Henssler et al.
Copyright © 2022 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
