Paroxetine is better than placebo in relapse prevention and the prophylaxis of recurrent depression

In an investigation of the efficacy of paroxetine in relapse prevention and prophylaxis of depression, patients who met DSM-III-R criteria for major depression with a history of two or more previous episodes in the preceding four years and who had responded to eight weeks treatment with paroxetine, were randomized double-blind to receive either paroxetine 20-30 mg or placebo for one year. One hundred and seventy-two patients entered open treatment of whom 141 completed eight weeks treatment. One hundred and thirty-five responders entered the double-blind placebo-controlled study. There was a significant advantage for paroxetine compared with placebo in the reappearance of depression (p < 0.01) and in the time to reappearance (p < 0.001) over the one-year study. A significant advantage was seen for paroxetine compared with placebo in the first four months in relapse prevention (p < 0.01) and in the time to relapse (p < 0.005), and in the later period of treatment in preventing recurrence in the time to recurrence (p < 0.05). Paroxetine was effective in preventing the reappearance of depression following an acute illness. These results confirm the benefit of long-term pharmacotherapy for treating depressive illness.