Trial reportEuropean journal of clinical pharmacology2003
Controlled withdrawal of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor drugs in elderly patients in nursing homes with no indication of depression.
Trial report in European journal of clinical pharmacology, 2003. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 6 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 6 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Approaches for discontinuation versus continuation of long-term antidepressant use for depressive and anxiety disorders in adults.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2021Pooled it
- Does Deprescribing Improve Quality of Life? A Systematic Review of the Literature.Drugs & aging · 2019Pooled it
- Effects of discontinuation of chronic medication in primary care: a systematic review of deprescribing trials.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2018Pooled it
- The feasibility and effect of deprescribing in older adults on mortality and health: a systematic review and meta-analysis.British journal of clinical pharmacology · 2016Pooled it
- A systematic mapping review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in care homes.BMC geriatrics · 2012Pooled it
- Medication withdrawal trials in people aged 65 years and older: a systematic review.Drugs & aging · 2008Pooled it
- Trials evaluating drug discontinuation: a scoping review sub-analysis focusing on outcomes and research questions.BMC medical research methodology · 2025Article
- Psychotropic drug-induced falls in older people: a review of interventions aimed at reducing the problem.Drugs & aging · 2012Review
- Can selective serotonin inhibitor drugs in elderly patients in nursing homes be reduced?Scandinavian journal of primary health care · 2007Article
- Controlled withdrawal of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in elderly patients in nursing homes with no indication of depression--a commentary.European journal of clinical pharmacology · 2005Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveThe aim of the investigation was to study the effects of withdrawing selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) drugs in nursing home patients, who had no documented diagnosis or symptoms of depression.
settingThe setting of the study was in 11 nursing homes in the county of Stockholm, Sweden.
participantsParticipants were patients without dementia or history of depression who had received treatment with SSRI drugs for more than 6 months and who had no indications of anxiety disorder or major depression
designThe included patients ( n=70) were randomized to either the intervention group (withdrawal of SSRI) or the control group (no change in treatment), 35 patients to each group.
main outcome measuresThe patients were subjected to assessment using the following instruments: Montgomery-Asberg depression rating scale, global assessment for functioning, health index and a symptom assessment form. Assessment was made at the start of the study and at the 3-month and 6-month follow-ups.
resultsWe found no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in any outcome measure.
conclusionTreatment with SSRI drugs in patients without clinical major depression or anxiety disorder is often unjustified and should be discontinued.
Indexed as
Identifiers
14595527What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.