Severity of depression and response to fluoxetine

Pooled data from multiple, double-blind clinical trials comparing fluoxetine with either placebo, a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) or both in patients with major depression were analyzed to assess the efficacy of these treatments in mild, moderate and severe depression. Fluoxetine-treated patients showed statistically significantly higher rates of response and remission than placebo-treated patients within all three severity subgroups. There were no differences in response or remission rates between fluoxetine and TCAs, regardless of symptom severity. Thus, the efficacy of fluoxetine was superior to placebo and similar to TCAs in mild, moderate and severe major depression.