Psychopharmacological treatments of the long-term depression

Abstract

We review the pharmacological studies in the longterm (2 years) treatment of depression. An online literature review of the main psychiatric searches was conducted. There are 11 studies regarding long-term depression treatment establishing a minimum 2 years follow-up period. Only five of these studies obtain positive results with clinical populations over 18 years old in the included samples: imipramine (2), amytriptiline, phenelzine and venlafaxine extended release. Studies regarding dotiepine, nortriptiline (2), sertraline and paroxetine only include patients over 60 years old. One study with sertraline shows negative results for the prevention of recurrences in elderly patients. A total of 2,705 patients participated in the first phase of the study. The largest samples for the second period belong to studies with imipramine involving 150 y 128 patients, and the study regarding venlafaxine extended release which includes 131 patients in the last phase of the maintenance period. Emerging studies using large samples and clear inclusion of acute phases, continued remission criteria, and continuation and long-term maintenance phases will allow to contrast these data about pharmacological prevention of recurrences in the treatment of depressive disorders.