Key result
Discontinuing antidepressants increases 52-week depression relapse risk ~106% vs maintaining therapy.
Why the study?
Data are limited on the effects of maintaining or discontinuing antidepressant therapy in primary care patients with depression.
Does discontinuing antidepressant therapy increase the risk of depression relapse compared to maintenance therapy in adults in primary care?
RCT (n=478)
Double-blind
1:1
Yes
Does discontinuing antidepressant therapy increase the risk of depression relapse compared to maintenance therapy in adults in primary care?
Hazard Ratio: 2.06 (95% CI 1.56–2.7)
Absolute Event Rate: 56% vs 39%
p-value: p=<0.001
Discontinuing antidepressant therapy in primary care patients who feel well enough to stop leads to a significantly higher risk of depression relapse by 52 weeks compared to maintaining therapy.
Maintenance reduces relapse risk versus discontinuation in stable primary care patients; confirms benefit of continued therapy in recurrent depression.
BACKGROUND: Patients with depression who are treated in primary care practices may receive antidepressants for prolonged periods. Data are limited on the effects of maintaining or discontinuing antidepressant therapy in this setting. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial involving adults who were being treated in 150 general practices in the United Kingdom. All the patients had a history of at least two depressive episodes or had been taking antidepressants for 2 years or longer and felt well enough to consider stopping antidepressants. Patients who had received citalopram, fluoxetine, sertraline, or mirtazapine were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to maintain their current antidepressant therapy (maintenance group) or to taper and discontinue such therapy with the use of matching placebo (discontinuation group). The primary outcome was the first relapse of depression during the 52-week trial period, as evaluated in a time-to-event analysis. Secondary outcomes were depressive and anxiety symptoms, physical and withdrawal symptoms, quality of life, time to stopping an antidepressant or placebo, and global mood ratings. RESULTS: A total of 1466 patients underwent screening. Of these patients, 478 were enrolled in the trial (238 in the maintenance group and 240 in the discontinuation group). The average age of the patients was 54 years; 73% were women. Adherence to the trial assignment was 70% in the maintenance group and 52% in the discontinuation group. By 52 weeks, relapse occurred in 92 of 238 patients (39%) in the maintenance group and in 135 of 240 (56%) in the discontinuation group (hazard ratio, 2.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.56 to 2.70; P<0.001). Secondary outcomes were generally in the same direction as the primary outcome. Patients in the discontinuation group had more symptoms of depression, anxiety, and withdrawal than those in the maintenance group. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients in primary care practices who felt well enough to discontinue antidepressant therapy, those who were assigned to stop their medication had a higher risk of relapse of depression by 52 weeks than those who were assigned to maintain their current therapy. (Funded by the National Institute for Health Research; ANTLER ISRCTN number, ISRCTN15969819.).
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Lewis et al. (2021) conducted an RCT in Depression (n=478). Discontinuation of antidepressant therapy vs. Maintenance of current antidepressant therapy was evaluated on First relapse of depression (HR 2.06, 95% CI 1.56 to 2.70, p=<0.001). Discontinuing antidepressant therapy in primary care patients increased the risk of depression relapse by 52 weeks compared to maintaining therapy (56% vs 39%; HR 2.06; 95% CI 1.56-2.70; P<0.001).
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