November 2009 · Vol. 21, No. 11When starting an antidepressant, try either of these 2 drugs first
Most patients find that sertraline and escitalopram are more effective and better tolerated than other antidepressants
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Fast Track
Combined psychotherapy and antidepressants are more effective than either treatment alone for all degrees of depression
Sertraline is the best choice for an initial antidepressant because it is available in generic form
Drug therapy may not be the best initial treatment for depression. Psychotherapy is equally effective, has fewer potential side effects, and may produce longer-lasting results
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Gail
L.
Patrick,
MD, MPPDr. Patrick is Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago. Gene
N.
Combs,
MDDr. Combs is Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, University of Chicago (NorthShore). Thomas
F.
Gavagan,
MD, MPHDr. Gavagan is Vice Chair of the Department of Family Medicine, University of Chicago (NorthShore).
The authors report no financial relationships relevant to this article.
Meta-analysis of 117 high-quality studies found that sertraline and escitalopram are superior to other “new-generation” antidepressants.1
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