Adverse reactions to antidepressants

Rudolf Uher; Anne Farmer; Neven Henigsberg; Marcella Rietschel; Ole Mors; Wolfgang Maier; Dejan Kozel; Joanna Hauser; Daniel Souery; Anna Placentino; Jana Strohmaier; Nader Perroud; Astrid Zobel; Aleksandra Rajewska-Rager; Moica Z. Dernovsek; Erik Roj Larsen; Petra Kalember; Caterina Giovannini; Mara Barreto; Peter McGuffin; Katherine J. Aitchison

doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.108.061960

Adverse reactions to antidepressants

Rudolf Uher, Anne Farmer, Neven Henigsberg, Marcella Rietschel, Ole Mors, Wolfgang Maier, Dejan Kozel, Joanna Hauser, Daniel Souery, Anna Placentino, Jana Strohmaier, Nader Perroud, Astrid Zobel, Aleksandra Rajewska-Rager, Moica Z. Dernovsek, Erik Roj Larsen, Petra Kalember, Caterina Giovannini, Mara Barreto, Peter McGuffinKatherine J. Aitchison

Social Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

199 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background Adverse drug reactions are important determinants of non-adherence to antidepressant treatment, but their assessment is complicated by overlap with depressive symptoms and lack of reliable self-report measures. Aims To evaluate a simple self-report measure and describe adverse reactions to antidepressants in a large sample. Method The newly developed self-report Antidepressant Side-Effect Checklist and the psychiatrist-rated UKU Side Effect Rating Scale were repeatedly administered to 811 adult participants with depression in a part-randomised multicentre open-label study comparing escitalopram and nortriptyline. Results There was good agreement between self-report and psychiatrists' ratings. Most complaints listed as adverse reactions in people with depression were more common when they were medication-free rather than during their treatment with antidepressants. Dry mouth (74%), constipation (33%) and weight gain (15%) were associated with nortriptyline treatment. Diarrhoea (9%), insomnia (36%) and yawning (16%) were more common during treatment with escitalopram. Problems with urination and drowsiness predicted discontinuation of nortriptyline. Diarrhoea and decreased appetite predicted discontinuation of escitalopram. Conclusions Adverse reactions to antidepressants can be reliably assessed by self-report. Attention to specific adverse reactions may improve adherence to antidepressant treatment.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	202 - 210
Number of pages	9
Journal	British Journal of Psychiatry
Volume	195
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.108.061960
Publication status	Published - Sept 2009

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10.1192/bjp.bp.108.061960

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Uher, R., Farmer, A., Henigsberg, N., Rietschel, M., Mors, O., Maier, W., Kozel, D., Hauser, J., Souery, D., Placentino, A., Strohmaier, J., Perroud, N., Zobel, A., Rajewska-Rager, A., Dernovsek, M. Z., Larsen, E. R., Kalember, P., Giovannini, C., Barreto, M., ... Aitchison, K. J. (2009). Adverse reactions to antidepressants. British Journal of Psychiatry, 195(3), 202 - 210. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.108.061960

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title = "Adverse reactions to antidepressants",

abstract = "Background Adverse drug reactions are important determinants of non-adherence to antidepressant treatment, but their assessment is complicated by overlap with depressive symptoms and lack of reliable self-report measures. Aims To evaluate a simple self-report measure and describe adverse reactions to antidepressants in a large sample. Method The newly developed self-report Antidepressant Side-Effect Checklist and the psychiatrist-rated UKU Side Effect Rating Scale were repeatedly administered to 811 adult participants with depression in a part-randomised multicentre open-label study comparing escitalopram and nortriptyline. Results There was good agreement between self-report and psychiatrists' ratings. Most complaints listed as adverse reactions in people with depression were more common when they were medication-free rather than during their treatment with antidepressants. Dry mouth (74%), constipation (33%) and weight gain (15%) were associated with nortriptyline treatment. Diarrhoea (9%), insomnia (36%) and yawning (16%) were more common during treatment with escitalopram. Problems with urination and drowsiness predicted discontinuation of nortriptyline. Diarrhoea and decreased appetite predicted discontinuation of escitalopram. Conclusions Adverse reactions to antidepressants can be reliably assessed by self-report. Attention to specific adverse reactions may improve adherence to antidepressant treatment.",

author = "Rudolf Uher and Anne Farmer and Neven Henigsberg and Marcella Rietschel and Ole Mors and Wolfgang Maier and Dejan Kozel and Joanna Hauser and Daniel Souery and Anna Placentino and Jana Strohmaier and Nader Perroud and Astrid Zobel and Aleksandra Rajewska-Rager and Dernovsek, {Moica Z.} and Larsen, {Erik Roj} and Petra Kalember and Caterina Giovannini and Mara Barreto and Peter McGuffin and Aitchison, {Katherine J.}",

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doi = "10.1192/bjp.bp.108.061960",

language = "English",

volume = "195",

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Uher, R , Farmer, A, Henigsberg, N, Rietschel, M, Mors, O, Maier, W, Kozel, D, Hauser, J, Souery, D, Placentino, A, Strohmaier, J, Perroud, N, Zobel, A, Rajewska-Rager, A, Dernovsek, MZ, Larsen, ER, Kalember, P, Giovannini, C, Barreto, M, McGuffin, P & Aitchison, KJ 2009, 'Adverse reactions to antidepressants', British Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 195, no. 3, pp. 202 - 210. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.108.061960

TY - JOUR

T1 - Adverse reactions to antidepressants

AU - Uher, Rudolf

AU - Farmer, Anne

AU - Henigsberg, Neven

AU - Rietschel, Marcella

AU - Mors, Ole

AU - Maier, Wolfgang

AU - Kozel, Dejan

AU - Hauser, Joanna

AU - Souery, Daniel

AU - Placentino, Anna

AU - Strohmaier, Jana

AU - Perroud, Nader

AU - Zobel, Astrid

AU - Rajewska-Rager, Aleksandra

AU - Dernovsek, Moica Z.

AU - Larsen, Erik Roj

AU - Kalember, Petra

AU - Giovannini, Caterina

AU - Barreto, Mara

AU - McGuffin, Peter

AU - Aitchison, Katherine J.

PY - 2009/9

Y1 - 2009/9

N2 - Background Adverse drug reactions are important determinants of non-adherence to antidepressant treatment, but their assessment is complicated by overlap with depressive symptoms and lack of reliable self-report measures. Aims To evaluate a simple self-report measure and describe adverse reactions to antidepressants in a large sample. Method The newly developed self-report Antidepressant Side-Effect Checklist and the psychiatrist-rated UKU Side Effect Rating Scale were repeatedly administered to 811 adult participants with depression in a part-randomised multicentre open-label study comparing escitalopram and nortriptyline. Results There was good agreement between self-report and psychiatrists' ratings. Most complaints listed as adverse reactions in people with depression were more common when they were medication-free rather than during their treatment with antidepressants. Dry mouth (74%), constipation (33%) and weight gain (15%) were associated with nortriptyline treatment. Diarrhoea (9%), insomnia (36%) and yawning (16%) were more common during treatment with escitalopram. Problems with urination and drowsiness predicted discontinuation of nortriptyline. Diarrhoea and decreased appetite predicted discontinuation of escitalopram. Conclusions Adverse reactions to antidepressants can be reliably assessed by self-report. Attention to specific adverse reactions may improve adherence to antidepressant treatment.

AB - Background Adverse drug reactions are important determinants of non-adherence to antidepressant treatment, but their assessment is complicated by overlap with depressive symptoms and lack of reliable self-report measures. Aims To evaluate a simple self-report measure and describe adverse reactions to antidepressants in a large sample. Method The newly developed self-report Antidepressant Side-Effect Checklist and the psychiatrist-rated UKU Side Effect Rating Scale were repeatedly administered to 811 adult participants with depression in a part-randomised multicentre open-label study comparing escitalopram and nortriptyline. Results There was good agreement between self-report and psychiatrists' ratings. Most complaints listed as adverse reactions in people with depression were more common when they were medication-free rather than during their treatment with antidepressants. Dry mouth (74%), constipation (33%) and weight gain (15%) were associated with nortriptyline treatment. Diarrhoea (9%), insomnia (36%) and yawning (16%) were more common during treatment with escitalopram. Problems with urination and drowsiness predicted discontinuation of nortriptyline. Diarrhoea and decreased appetite predicted discontinuation of escitalopram. Conclusions Adverse reactions to antidepressants can be reliably assessed by self-report. Attention to specific adverse reactions may improve adherence to antidepressant treatment.

U2 - 10.1192/bjp.bp.108.061960

DO - 10.1192/bjp.bp.108.061960

M3 - Article

SN - 1472-1465

VL - 195

SP - 202

EP - 210

JO - British Journal of Psychiatry

JF - British Journal of Psychiatry

IS - 3

ER -

Adverse reactions to antidepressants

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