Heuristic comparison of sertraline with nortriptyline for the treatment of depression in frail elderly patients

Studies have demonstrated that the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants have similar efficacy, to other agents, such as tricyclic antidepressants However; data are limited for direct comparisons with other antidepressants. The authors conducted a contemporaneous comparison of nursing home residents treated with open-label sertraline in doses up to 100 mg/day with nursing home residents treated in a double-blind randomized study, of low vs. regular doses of nortriptyline. There were 97 patients enrolled in the study, (28 treated with sertraline), with an average treatment duration of 55 days. There were no differences in the tolerability of sertraline vs nortriptyline. However in this group of frail older adults, sertraline was not as effective as nortriptyline for the treatment of depression.