BMJ 1995;311:751 (16 September)

Letters

Acceptability of side effects as reason for stopping may bias results

EDITOR,--I M Anderson and B M Tomenson raise the issue of compliance with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants and the importance of side effects in determining this.1 The occurrence of side effects is only one of many factors affecting compliance, as the authors' analysis shows. Even with a difference in drop out rate of 25% between the classes of drug due to side effects, there was only a very small difference in the overall drop out rates. Other researchers have examined this area, with mixed results.2 3 Many patients may give side effects as their main reason for stopping antidepressants when this is not the only factor. It is a reason that carries legitimacy with the medical profession and, patients know, will not offend the sensibilities of their doctor. Lack of faith in the benefit of treatment is a potent factor in stopping treatment that patients cannot easily disclose . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Treatment discontinuation with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors compared with tricyclic antidepressants: a meta-analysis
I M Anderson and B M Tomenson
BMJ 1995 310: 1433-1438. [Abstract] [Full Text]

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