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Choice of antidepressants by psychiatrists working with old people

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

John Wattis ,
Peter Bentham  and
John Bestley
John Wattis
Affiliation:
Bridge House, Balm Road, Leeds LS10 2TP
Peter Bentham
Affiliation:
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, B15 2Q2
John Bestley
Affiliation:
Yorkshire Training Scheme
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In 1992, 46 consultants in old age psychiatry were asked to list their five most frequently used antidepressants, with reasons for their choices, and to comment on an information set for evaluating an antidepressant for use in older people. Lofepramine tied with dothiepin as the most popular antidepressant. The relatively new selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRis) were also widely used. Cardiovascular safety, lack of anticholinergic side effects and safety in overdose were important factors in choice. Some antidepressants were preferred for particular symptoms or circumstances. A modified information set for evaluating an antidepressant for use in older people is presented.

Type
Original papers
Information
Psychiatric Bulletin , Volume 18 , Issue 3 , March 1994 , pp. 148 - 151
Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BY
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1994

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