Maintenance Treatment and Health-Related Quality of Life in Depressed Elders

In a previous analysis of data from a double-blind, randomized trial, depressed older patients (most were white women) who had initially responded to acute treatment were less likely to experience depression recurrence with 2 years of maintenance therapy with paroxetine than with placebo or interpersonal therapy (IPT). (Journal Watch Mar 17 2006). A new analysis shows the same advantage for paroxetine on health-related quality of life (HR-QOL).

A total of 195 depressed patients (age ≥70) were treated initially with paroxetine (10–40 mg/day) and IPT; 116 responded and maintained remission over 16 weeks of continuation treatment. These responders were randomized to four groups: paroxetine plus usual care, paroxetine plus IPT, placebo plus IPT,…