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Published on: January 7, 2019
Treating the physical symptoms of depression with second-generation antidepressants: a systematic review and
Erin E Krebs1, Bradley N Gaynes, Gerald Gartlehner
1Center on Implementing Evidence-Based Practice, Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. krebse@iupui.edu
Background:
Approximately two-thirds of patients with depression experience physical pain symptoms. Coexisting pain complicates the treatment of depression and is associated with worse depression outcomes.
Objective:
The authors reviewed the effect of newer antidepressants on pain in patients with depression.
Method:
The authors searched systematically for trials of second-generation antidepressants that enrolled depression patients and reported pain outcomes, pooling changes on the pain visual-analog scale (VAS), using random-effects models.
Results:
Eight trials were eligible. Pooled analysis of head-to-head trials showed no difference in VAS between duloxetine and paroxetine. Both drugs were superior to placebo.
Conclusion:
The authors found insufficient evidence to support the choice of one second-generation antidepressant over another in patients with pain accompanying depression.
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