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Letters

SSRIs may well be best treatment for elderly depressed subjects

BMJ 1998; 316 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.316.7131.631 (Published 14 February 1998) Cite this as: BMJ 1998;316:631
  1. Richard J Porter, Clinical lecturer in psychiatry,
  2. John T O'Brien, Senior lecturer in old age psychiatry
  1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Newcastle, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP

    EDITOR—In his review of mental health in old age Macdonald advocates the use of dothiepin as a first line antidepressant.1 He suggests that the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors should usually be reserved for cases in which tricyclic antidepressants fail or are contraindicated. Although it is impossible in a brief review article to cover fully the advantages and disadvantages of different drugs, we think it important to highlight that, as in younger patients, rational choice of a first line …

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