Role of antidepressants in people with dementia and associated depression
Question 4: For people with dementia with associated depression, do antidepressants when compared to placebo/comparator produce benefits/harm in the specified outcomes?
- Population: people with dementia with a coexisting depressive illness
- Interventions: antidepressants
- Comparison: placebo
- Outcomes:
- depression improvement
- cognition improvement
- activities of daily living
- clinical global impression
- number of dropouts
- adverse events.
Recommendation(s)
In people with dementia with symptoms and/or signs suggestive of moderate or severe depression, use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may be considered by non-specialist health care providers. In case of non-response after at least 3 weeks, they should preferably be referred to mental health specialist for further assessment and management.
Strength of recommendation: STANDARD