Adverse Effects of Pharmacologic Treatments of Major Depression in Older Adults

Rationale and design for a pragmatic randomized trial to assess gene-based prescribing for SSRIs in the treatment of depression

Specific selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) metabolism is strongly influenced by two pharmacogenes, CYP2D6 and CYP2C19. However, the effectiveness of prospectively using pharmacogenetic variants to select or dose SSRIs for depression is uncertain in routine clinical practice. The objective of this prospective, multicenter, pragmatic randomized controlled trial is to determine the effectiveness of genotype-guided selection and dosing of antidepressants on control of depression in participants who are 8 years or older with ≥3 months of depressive symptoms who require new or revised therapy. Those randomized to the intervention arm undergo pharmacogenetic testing at baseline and receive a pharmacy consult and/or automated clinical decision support intervention based on an actionable phenotype, while those randomized to the control arm have pharmacogenetic testing at the end of 6-months. In both groups, depression and drug tolerability outcomes are assessed at baseline, 1 month, 3 months (primary), and 6 months. The primary end point is defined by change in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Depression score assessed at 3 months versus baseline. Secondary end points include change inpatient health questionnaire (PHQ-8) measure of depression severity, remission rates defined by PROMIS score < 16, medication adherence, and medication side effects. The primary analysis will compare the PROMIS score difference between trial arms among those with an actionable CYP2D6 or CYP2C19 genetic result or a CYP2D6 drug-drug interaction. The trial has completed accrual of 1461 participants, of which 562 were found to have an actionable phenotype to date, and follow-up will be complete in April of 2024.

Treating Depression in Dementia Patients: A Risk or Remedy-A Narrative Review

BACKGROUND

The diagnosis of depression in dementia patients leads to an increase in the burden of the disease. To treat depression in this patient group, antidepressants are frequently used; however, there is not any proof of their therapeutic effectiveness, and their use may be potentially harmful. This narrative review aims to summarize the existing evidence regarding the role of antidepressants in treating depression in dementia patients.

MAIN TEXT

A search was conducted in the PubMed, Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE), and Cochrane databases for randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses wherein antidepressants were given to dementia sufferers to address depression. Fifteen randomized controlled trials and seven meta-analyses were identified. Most well-designed blinded placebo-controlled trials reported a lack of effectiveness of antidepressants in treating depression in dementia patients. Among the seven metanalyses, two reported good efficacy of Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). However, two major Cochrane reviews reported little or no effectiveness and increased side effects of antidepressants in dementia patients.

CONCLUSION

There is robust evidence regarding the lack of efficacy of antidepressants in treating depression in dementia patients. However, further well-designed Randomized controlled trials (RCTs,) using scales with good validity and reliability to diagnose depression in dementia patients, sufficient sample sizes, and detailed adverse effect profiles may help determine the rationale for their use.

Personalized venlafaxine dose prediction using artificial intelligence technology: a retrospective analysis based on real-world data

BACKGROUND

Venlafaxine dose regimens vary considerably between individuals, requiring personalized dosing.

AIM

This study aimed to identify dose-related influencing factors of venlafaxine through real-world data analysis and to construct a personalized dose model using advanced artificial intelligence techniques.

METHOD

We conducted a retrospective study on patients with depression treated with venlafaxine. Significant variables were selected through a univariate analysis. Subsequently, the predictive performance of seven models (XGBoost, LightGBM, CatBoost, GBDT, ANN, TabNet, and DT) was compared. The algorithm that demonstrated optimal performance was chosen to establish the dose prediction model. Model validation used confusion matrices and ROC analysis. Additionally, a dose subgroup analysis was conducted.

RESULTS

A total of 298 patients were included. TabNet was selected to establish the venlafaxine dose prediction model, which exhibited the highest performance with an accuracy of 0.80. The analysis identified seven crucial variables correlated with venlafaxine daily dose, including blood venlafaxine concentration, total protein, lymphocytes, age, globulin, cholinesterase, and blood platelet count. The area under the curve (AUC) for predicting venlafaxine doses of 75 mg, 150 mg, and 225 mg were 0.90, 0.85, and 0.90, respectively.

CONCLUSION

We successfully developed a TabNet model to predict venlafaxine doses using real-world data. This model demonstrated substantial predictive accuracy, offering a personalized dosing regimen for venlafaxine. These findings provide valuable guidance for the clinical use of the drug.

Zuranolone for treatment of major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Current treatment modalities for Major Depressive Disorder have variable efficacies and a variety of side effects. To amend this, many trials for short term, well tolerated monotherapies are underway. One such option is Zuranolone (SAGE-217), which is a recent FDA approved antidepressant for Post Partum depression (PPD) and is undergoing clinical trials for PPD, major depressive disorder (MDD) and essential tremors (ET).

Objectives

Pool currently available data that compare Zuranolone to Placebo for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder and evaluate its efficacy and safety profile.

Methods

We retrieved data from PUBMED and SCOPUS from inception to July 2023. We included articles comparing Zuranolone or SAGE 217 with placebo in patients suffering from Major Depressive Disorder. Review Manager 5.4 was used to analyze the outcomes including changes in the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) and Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) scores from baseline as well as any treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and severe adverse events.

Results

Our review analyzed 4 trials and the data of 1,357 patients. Patients treated with Zuranolone indicated a statistically significant effect in the change from baseline in HAM-D score (p = 0.0009; MD [95% CI]: -2.03 [-3.23, -0.84]) as well as in MADRS score (p = 0.02; MD [95% CI]: -2.30[-4.31, -0.30]) and HAM-A score (p = 0.03; MD [95% CI]: -1.41[-2.70, -0.11]) on 15th day when compared to the Placebo group. Zuranolone was also significantly associated with a higher response rate (p = 0.0008; OR [95% CI]: 1.63[1.14, 2.35]) and higher remission rate (p = 0.03; OR [95% CI]: 1.65[1.05, 2.59]) when compared with the placebo. As for safety, Zuranolone was significantly associated with 1 or more TEAE (p = 0.006; RR [95% CI]: 1.14[1.04, 1.24]) but an insignificant association with side effects that lead to drug discontinuation (p = 0.70; RR [95% CI]: 1.18[0.51, 2.76]) and serious adverse events (p = 0.48; RR [95% CI]: 1.46 [0.52, 4.10]) when compared with placebo.

Conclusion

Zuranolone is an effective and safe drug for short course major depressive disorder monotherapy. It shows results in 14 days (compared to 2-4 weeks that SSRI's take) and has anti-anxiolytic effects as well. However, only 4 trials have been used for the analysis and the sample size was small. The trials reviewed also cannot determine the long-term effects of the drug. More trials are needed to determine long term effects.

The association between gray matter volume in the hippocampal subfield and antidepressant efficacy mediated by abnormal dynamic functional connectivity

An abnormality of structures and functions in the hippocampus may have a key role in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, it is unclear whether structure factors of the hippocampus effectively impact antidepressant responses by hippocampal functional activity in MDD patients. We collected longitudinal data from 36 MDD patients before and after a 3-month course of antidepressant pharmacotherapy. Additionally, we obtained baseline data from 43 healthy controls matched for sex and age. Using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI), we estimated the dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) of the hippocampal subregions using a sliding-window method. The gray matter volume was calculated using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). The results indicated that patients with MDD exhibited significantly lower dFC of the left rostral hippocampus (rHipp.L) with the right precentral gyrus, left superior temporal gyrus and left postcentral gyrus compared to healthy controls at baseline. In MDD patients, the dFC of the rHipp.L with right precentral gyrus at baseline was correlated with both the rHipp.L volume and HAMD remission rate, and also mediated the effects of the rHipp.L volume on antidepressant performance. Our findings suggested that the interaction between hippocampal structure and functional activity might affect antidepressant performance, which provided a novel insight into the hippocampus-related neurobiological mechanism of MDD.

tDCS reduces depression and state anxiety symptoms in older adults from the augmenting cognitive training in older adults study (ACT)

BACKGROUND

Pharmacological interventions for depression and anxiety in older adults often have significant side effects, presenting the need for more tolerable alternatives. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising non-pharmacological intervention for depression in clinical populations. However, its effects on depression and anxiety symptoms, particularly in older adults from the general public, are understudied.

OBJECTIVE

We conducted a secondary analysis of the Augmenting Cognitive Training in Older Adults (ACT) trial to assess tDCS efficacy in reducing psychological symptoms in older adults. We hypothesized that active stimulation would yield greater reductions in depression and state anxiety compared to sham post-intervention and at the one-year follow-up. We also explored tDCS effects in subgroups characterized by baseline symptom severity.

METHODS

A sample of 378 older adults recruited from the community completed a 12-week tDCS intervention with cognitive or education training. Electrodes were placed at F3/F4, and participants received active or sham tDCS during training sessions. We assessed the association between tDCS group and changes in depression, state anxiety, and trait anxiety from baseline to post-intervention and one-year controlling for covariates.

RESULTS

The active tDCS group demonstrated greater reductions in depression and state anxiety compared to sham post-intervention, particularly in individuals with mild depression and moderate/severe state anxiety at baseline. Furthermore, the active tDCS group with moderate/severe state anxiety maintained greater symptom reductions at one-year.

CONCLUSIONS

tDCS effectively reduced depression and state anxiety symptoms in a large sample of older adults. These findings highlight the importance of considering symptom severity when identifying those who may benefit most from this intervention.

Effectiveness of Prefrontal Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Depression in Older US Military Veterans

OBJECTIVE

While typical aging is associated with decreased cortical volume, major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) likely exacerbates this process. Cerebral atrophy leads to increased coil-to-cortex distance and when using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), potentially reducing effectiveness in older adults.

METHODS

Data from a large-scale quality improvement project was used. Included veterans eligible for TMS and completed TMS treatment. Age was assessed as a predictive factor of depression outcomes after TMS treatment among veterans. Secondary analyses examined the impact of age on 1) MDD response and remission and 2) MDD change within MDD-only verses comorbid MDD and PTSD groups.

RESULTS

The entire sample included 471 veterans. Primary analysis revealed age as a negative predictor of depression outcomes (p = 0.019). Secondary analyses found age to be a significant predictor of remission (p = 0.004), but not clinical response. Age was not a predictive factor in depression outcomes between those with MDD-only compared to MDD+PTSD.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased age predicts greater MDD symptom reduction after TMS. Although age did not predict response rates, it did predict increased rates of remission in veterans. Age did not differentially predict depression outcomes between those with or without PTSD. The sample size was sufficient to discern a difference in efficaciousness, and limitations were those inherent to registry studies in veterans. This data indicates that TMS can be an important treatment option for older individuals.

Plasma metabolomics reveals the intervention mechanism of different types of exercise on chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depression rat model

OBJECTIVE

To study the effects of different types of exercise on the plasma metabolomics of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS)-induced depressed rats based on 1H-NMR metabolomics techniques, and to explore the potential mechanisms of exercise for the treatment of depression. Rats were randomly divided into blank control group (C), CUMS control group (D), pre-exercise with CUMS group (P), CUMS with aerobic exercise group, CUMS with resistance exercise group (R), and CUMS with aerobic + resistance exercise group (E). The corresponding protocol intervention was applied to each group of rats. Body weight, sucrose preference and open field tests were performed weekly during the experiment to evaluate the extent of depression in rats. Plasma samples from each group of rats were collected at the end of the experiment, and then the plasma was analyzed by 1H-NMR metabolomics combined with multivariate statistical analysis methods to identify differential metabolites and perform metabolic pathway analysis. (1) Compared with the group D, the body weight, sucrose preference rate, and the number of crossings and standings in the different types of exercise groups were significantly improved (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). (2) Compared to group C, a total of 15 differential metabolites associated with depression were screened in the plasma of rats in group D, involving 6 metabolic pathways. Group P can regulate the levels of 6 metabolites: valine, lactate, inositol, glucose, phosphocreatine, acetoacetic acid. Group A can regulate the levels of 6 metabolites: N-acetylglycoprotein, leucine, lactate, low density lipoprotein, glucose and acetoacetic acid. Group R can regulate the levels of 6 metabolites: choline, lactate, inositol, glucose, phosphocreatine and acetoacetic acid. Group E can regulate the levels of 5 metabolites: choline, citric acid, glucose, acetone and acetoacetic acid. The different types of exercise groups can improve the depressive symptoms in CUMS rats, and there are common metabolites and metabolic pathways for their mechanism of effects. This study provides a powerful analytical tool to study the mechanism of the antidepressant effect of exercise, and provides an important method and basis for the early diagnosis, prevention and treatment of depression.

Real-World Evidence on Clinical Outcomes of Commonly Used Antidepressants in Older Adults Initiating Antidepressants for Depression: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Denmark

OBJECTIVE

The authors investigated the clinical outcomes of commonly used antidepressants among older adults who initiated first-time antidepressants for depression by analyzing the 1-year risk of selected clinically relevant outcomes.

METHODS

This cohort study used nationwide Danish registry data and included all older adults who redeemed a first-time (since 1995) antidepressant prescription with an indication of depression between 2006 and 2017. Only the 10 most frequently redeemed antidepressants were included in the analyses. Outcomes included discontinuation, switching, augmentation, psychiatric hospital contacts, suicide attempt or self-harm, fall-related injuries, cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality. Incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using Poisson regression models, controlling for potential confounders.

RESULTS

The study sample included 93,883 older adults (mean age, 78.0 years, SD=7.5 years; 56% female). The most frequently prescribed antidepressants were selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (citalopram, 47.04%; escitalopram, 11.81%; fluoxetine, 0.55%; paroxetine, 0.52%; sertraline, 11.17%), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (duloxetine, 0.71%; venlafaxine, 1.54%), a tricyclic antidepressant (amitriptyline, 1.86%), and two atypical antidepressants (mianserin, 1.93%; mirtazapine, 22.87%). Compared with users of sertraline (the reference drug in this analysis, as Danish guidelines recommend it as the first-choice treatment for depression), users of most of the other nine antidepressants had a significantly higher risk of discontinuation (e.g., mirtazapine: IRR=1.55, 95% CI=1.50-1.61; venlafaxine: IRR=1.22, 95% CI=1.12-1.32), switching (amitriptyline: IRR=1.45, 95% CI=1.15-1.81; venlafaxine: IRR=1.47, 95% CI=1.20-1.80), augmentation, cardiovascular events, and mortality. Overall, mirtazapine and venlafaxine users had the most adverse outcomes compared with sertraline users. These results remained consistent in analyses stratified by sex and age (≤75 years vs. >75 years).

CONCLUSIONS

This real-world evidence suggests that clinical outcomes may vary among initiators of commonly used antidepressants in older adults, which may inform benefit-risk evaluation at treatment initiation, and highlights the importance of careful selection of antidepressant treatment.

Trazodone in the Management of Major Depression Among Elderly Patients with Dementia: A Narrative Review and Clinical Insights

Objective

Major depressive disorder (MDD) often co-occurs with dementia and other neurological disorders, and treatment with antidepressants can improve symptoms, quality of life, and survival in these patients. This narrative review provides an expert opinion about the role and effectiveness of trazodone in the treatment of older adults with MDD and cognitive impairment due to physical illnesses, such as dementia.

Results

Because of its mechanism of action, trazodone can treat several depression symptoms often seen in people with dementia, including insomnia, agitation, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and irritability.

Conclusion

Trazodone may be beneficial for patients with dementia or other neurological disorders comorbid with MDD, especially when the clinical picture of depression includes or is comorbid to symptoms of insomnia, irritability, inner tension, anxiety, or psychomotor agitation.

PROTOCOL: Non-pharmacological interventions for older people with a diagnosis of depression: An evidence and gap map

This is the protocol for an evidence and gap map. The objectives are as follows: To map available randomized control trials, economic evaluations, and systematic reviews that assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for older people with a diagnosis of depression and identify any existing gaps in the evidence that can inform future research.

The selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor reboxetine promotes late-stage fracture healing in mice

Impaired fracture healing is of high clinical relevance, as up to 15% of patients with long-bone fractures display non-unions. Fracture patients also include individuals treated with selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI). As SNRI were previously shown to negatively affect bone homeostasis, it remained unclear whether patients with SNRI are at risk of impaired bone healing. Here, we show that daily treatment with the SNRI reboxetine reduces trabecular bone mass in the spine but increases cortical thickness and osteoblast numbers in the femoral midshaft. Most importantly, reboxetine does not impair bone regeneration in a standardized murine fracture model, and even improves callus bridging and biomechanical stability at late healing stages. In sum, reboxetine affects bone remodeling in a site-specific manner. Treatment does not interfere with the early and intermediate stages of bone regeneration and improves healing outcomes of the late-stage fracture callus in mice.

Symptom Management in the Older Adult: 2023 Update

In the older adult with a serious illness, the goal of palliative medicine and symptom management is to optimize quality of life. Frailty has become an overarching finding in many older adults with serious illness. Symptom management options need to be considered in the lens of increasing frailty along an illness trajectory. Here, the authors emphasize literature updates and best practices for the most common symptoms experienced by the older adult with a serious illness.

Discontinuation of Antidepressants in Older Adults: A Literature Review

Polypharmacy increases the risk of unbearable side effects, drug-drug interactions, and hospitalizations in geriatric patients. The iatrogenic risk of inadequate management of antidepressants is very important in this population. Therefore, primary care physicians and geriatricians have the responsibility of the optimization of antidepressants prescriptions. Our work is a literature review of the European and the international guidelines regarding the management of antidepressants. We reviewed the PubMed database and Google scholar for articles and reviews from 2015. We also screened relevant articles for more references and searched the web for available European guidelines relevant to our topic. We divided our findings into four main inquiries that are Indication, effectiveness, tolerability, and iatrogenic risks. Poor or absence of effectiveness should lead to a readjustment of the treatment plan. In case of unbearable side effects, antidepressants should be stopped, and alternative non-pharmacological therapies should be proposed. Doctors should look out for drug-drug interaction risks in this population and constantly adjust the prescription. Prescription of antidepressants is not always evidence based which leads to heavy iatrogenic consequences. We suggest a simple 4-questions-algorithm that aims to remind doctors of the basics of good practice and helps in the process of deprescribing an antidepressant in older adults.

Efficacy of virtual interventions for reducing symptoms of depression in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Older adults experience symptoms of depression, leading to suffering and increased morbidity and mortality. Although we have effective depression therapies, physical distancing and other public health measures have severely limited access to in-person interventions.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the efficacy of virtual interventions for reducing symptoms of depression in community-dwelling older adults.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

SETTING

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Libraries, PsycINFO, and gray literature from inception to July 5, 2021.

PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS

We included randomized trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy of virtual interventions to any other virtual intervention or usual care in community-dwelling adults ≥60 years old experiencing symptoms of depression or depression as an outcome.

MEASUREMENTS

The primary outcome was change in symptoms of depression measured by any depression scale.

RESULTS

We screened 12,290 abstracts and 830 full text papers. We included 15 RCTs (3100 participants). Five RCTs examined persons with depression symptoms at baseline and ten examined depression as an outcome only. Included studies demonstrated feasibility of interventions such as internet or telephone cognitive behavioral therapy with some papers showing statistically significant improvement in depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a paucity of studies examining virtual interventions in older adults with depression. Given difficulty in accessing in-person therapies in a pandemic and poor access for people living in rural and remote regions, there is an urgent need to explore efficacy, effectiveness, and implementation of virtual therapies.

PROTOCOL: Treatment for depressive disorder among adults: An evidence and gap map of systematic reviews

This is the protocol for a Campbell evidence and gap map. The objective of the map is to map available systematic reviews on the effectiveness of treatments for depressive disorders among adults. Specifically, this EGM includes studies on the effectiveness of treatments across a range of outcome domains.

Therapy Strategies for Late-life Depression: A Review

BACKGROUND

Depression in the elderly requires different treatment options because therapies that are commonly used for depression in younger patients show different effects later in life. Treatment options for late-life depression (LLD) are summarized in this article.

METHODS

A literature search in Medline/PubMed performed in June 2020 identified 83 relevant studies.

RESULTS

Pharmacotherapy with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can be an effective first-line treatment in LLD, but >50% of elderly patients do not adequately respond. Switching to other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or augmenting with mood stabilizers or antipsychotics is often effective in achieving a therapeutic benefit. Severely depressed patients with a high risk of suicidal behavior can be treated with electroconvulsive therapy. Psychotherapy provides a measurable benefit alone and when combined with medication.

LIMITATIONS

LLD remains an underrepresented domain in research. Paucity of data concerning the effect of specific therapies for LLD, heterogeneity in the quality of study designs, overinterpretation of results from meta-analyses, and discrepancies between study results and guideline recommendations were often noted.

CONCLUSIONS

Treating LLD is complex, but there are several treatment options with good efficacy and tolerability. Some novel pharmaceuticals also show promise as potential antidepressants, but evidence for their efficacy and safety is still limited and based on only a few trials conducted to date.

Integrated Module of Multidimensional Omics for Peripheral Biomarkers (iMORE) in patients with major depressive disorder: rationale and design of a prospective multicentre cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Major depressive disorder (MDD) represents a worldwide burden on healthcare and the response to antidepressants remains limited. Systems biology approaches have been used to explore the precision therapy. However, no reliable biomarker clinically exists for prognostic prediction at present. The objectives of the Integrated Module of Multidimensional Omics for Peripheral Biomarkers (iMORE) study are to predict the efficacy of antidepressants by integrating multidimensional omics and performing validation in a real-world setting. As secondary aims, a series of potential biomarkers are explored for biological subtypes.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

iMore is an observational cohort study in patients with MDD with a multistage design in China. The study is performed by three mental health centres comprising an observation phase and a validation phase. A total of 200 patients with MDD and 100 healthy controls were enrolled. The protocol-specified antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. Clinical visits (baseline, 4 and 8 weeks) include psychiatric rating scales for symptom assessment and biospecimen collection for multiomics analysis. Participants are divided into responders and non-responders based on treatment response (>50% reduction in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale). Antidepressants' responses are predicted and biomarkers are explored using supervised learning approach by integration of metabolites, cytokines, gut microbiomes and immunophenotypic cells. The accuracy of the prediction models constructed is verified in an independent validation phase.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study was approved by the ethics committee of Shanghai Mental Health Center (approval number 2020-87). All participants need to sign a written consent for the study entry. Study findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04518592.

General antidepressants prescribing trends 2009-2018 in Slovenia: a cross-sectional retrospective database study

BACKGROUND

Antidepressants are one of the most frequently prescribed groups of medications. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence and patterns of antidepressants prescribed between 2009 and 2018 in Slovenia in different patient-age groups.

METHODS

This retrospective cross-sectional study performed a nationwide database analysis of all outpatient antidepressant prescriptions based on Slovenian health claims data. Prevalence was defined as number of recipients prescribed at least one antidepressant per 1000 inhabitants. Antidepressant consumption was presented as total dispensed defined daily doses per year.

RESULTS

In 2018, 147,300 patients were prescribed at least one antidepressant. The prevalence had increased by 16% in ten years and by 7.6% in age standardised data. The largest increase in prevalence was seen in the oldest patients (>80 years, 25% increase); of these, antidepressants are now prescribed to 1 in 4. Use of antidepressants had increased by 38%, suggesting longer treatment duration, increase in dose prescribed or both. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) were the most prescribed antidepressants (70% share), with escitalopram and sertraline the most commonly prescribed antidepressants.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of antidepressant prescribing and antidepressant consumption is increasing, mainly due to the population ageing and the increasing prescribing in elderly patients.Key PointsThe prevalence of antidepressant prescribing as well as antidepressants' consumption is increasing, reflecting both population ageing and rising prescribing rates.The increase in prevalence and consumption is most dramatic in the oldest patients (over 80 years of age).SSRIs continue to be the most commonly prescribed antidepressants, whilst prescribing of SNRIs is increasing.Future research should focus on evaluating appropriate prescribing of antidepressants (treatment selection, dosage and duration), especially in the elderly.

Acupuncture for emotional disorders in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Emotional disorders are often observed in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD with emotional disorders leads to poor quality of life. This systematic review aims to assess the effectiveness of acupuncture in patients with IBD with emotional disorders.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

Nine electronic databases, including Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, VIP Database and Wanfang Database, will be searched from inception to October 2021 without language restriction. The grey literature containing conference proceedings, as well as systematic reviews listed in the reference of definite publications, will also be retrieved. Randomised controlled trials either in English or Chinese reporting acupuncture therapy for IBD with emotional disorders will be included. The primary outcome is changes of emotional functioning outcomes. The Colitis Activity Index, Crohn's Disease Activity Index, C reactive protein and adverse events will be assessed as the secondary outcomes. More than two assessors will conduct the study retrieval and selection, as well as the data extraction and evaluation of the risk of bias. Data synthesis will be performed using a random-effects model based on the results of heterogeneity. Data analysis will be performed using RevMan software (V.5.4). Moreover, the dichotomous data will be presented as risk ratios, and the continuous data will be calculated using weighted mean difference or standard mean difference.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This systematic review contains no individual patient data; thus, ethical approval is not required. Moreover, this review will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal or relevant conference.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020176340.

Abnormal Dynamic Functional Connectivity of the Left Rostral Hippocampus in Predicting Antidepressant Efficacy in Major Depressive Disorder

OBJECTIVE

Some pharmacological treatments are ineffective in parts of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), hence this needs prediction of effective treatment responses. The study aims to examine the relationship between dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) of the hippocampal subregion and antidepressant improvement of MDD patients and to estimate the capability of dFC to predict antidepressant efficacy.

METHODS

The data were from 70 MDD patients and 43 healthy controls (HC); the dFC of hippocampal subregions was estimated by sliding-window approach based on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (R-fMRI). After 3 months treatment, 36 patients underwent second R-fMRI scan and were then divided into the response group and non-response group according to clinical responses.

RESULTS

The result manifested that MDD patients exhibited lower mean dFC of the left rostral hippocampus (rHipp.l) compared with HC. After 3 months therapy, the response group showed lower dFC of rHipp.l compared with the non-response group. The dFC of rHipp.l was also negatively correlated with the reduction rate of Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.

CONCLUSION

These findings highlighted the importance of rHipp in MDD from the dFC perspective. Detection and estimation of these changes might demonstrate helpful for comprehending the pathophysiological mechanism and for assessment of treatment reaction of MDD.

Does Long-Term Post-Bariatric Weight Change Differ Across Antidepressants?

We sought to evaluate whether weight change up to 5 years after bariatric surgery differed by antidepressant class taken before surgery.

Background

Bariatric surgery induces significant weight loss, but outcomes are highly variable. The specific type of antidepressant used prior to surgery may be an important factor in long-term weight loss.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study from 2000 to 2016 compared the 5-year weight loss of 556 Veterans who were taking antidepressant monotherapy (bupropion, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors [SSRIs], or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors [SNRIs]) before bariatric surgery (229 sleeve gastrectomy and 327 Roux-en-Y gastric bypass) versus 556 matched nonsurgical controls.

Results

Patients taking bupropion before sleeve gastrectomy had greater differential weight loss between surgical patients and matched controls than those taking SSRIs at 1 (8.9 pounds; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-16.3; P = 0.02) and 2 years (17.6 pounds; 95% CI, 5.9-29.3; P = 0.003), but there was no difference at 5 years (11.9 pounds; 95% CI, -8.9 to 32.8; P = 0.26). Findings were similar for gastric bypass patients taking bupropion compared to SSRIs at 1 (9.7 pounds; 95% CI, 2.0-17.4; P = 0.014), 2 (12.0 pounds; 95% CI, -0.5 to 24.5; P = 0.06), and 5 years (4.8 pounds; 95% CI, -16.7 to 26.3; P = 0.66). No significant differences were observed comparing patients taking SNRI versus SSRI medications.

Conclusions

Sleeve gastrectomy and gastric bypass patients taking bupropion had greater weight loss than those taking SSRIs, although these differences may wane over time. Bupropion may be the first-line antidepressant of choice among patients with severe obesity considering bariatric surgery.

A comparative analysis of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and fall risk in older adults

BACKGROUND

One in five older adults (age 65+) uses an antidepressant medication. However, little is known about how fall risk differs between commonly prescribed medications. We examine the comparative association between individual selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and self-reported falls in older adults.

METHODS

We used data from 2010-2017 Medicare Current Beneficiary Surveys, a nationally representative survey of Medicare beneficiaries. We included participants from three different panels surveyed over two successive years. Participants were limited to community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries 65+, enrolled in Medicare Part D, and taking an SSRI (n = 1023) during baseline years. Participants were asked about demographic and health characteristics, medication use (including dose, frequency, duration of use) and self-reported falls as any fall or recurrent falls in the past year. We compared individual SSRI (citalopram or escitalopram vs sertraline) use by the average monthly total standardized daily dose (TSDD) and self-reported falling, controlling for potential confounders. Descriptive analysis and multivariable logistic regressions were conducted using SAS-callable SUDAAN.

RESULTS

Citalopram/escitalopram (n = 460 users; 45.0% of all SSRI users) and sertraline (n = 294 users; 28.7% of all SSRI users) were the most commonly prescribed SSRIs. Overall, 36.3% of citalopram/escitalopram users and 39.4% of sertraline users reported a fall in the year following medication use. There were no statistically significant differences between sertraline and citalopram/escitalopram users of either low or medium TSDD levels in the risk of self-reported any or recurrent falls. However, users of high TSDD of sertraline (>75 mg) had a lower risk of recurrent falls compared to high TSDD citalopram (>30 mg) or escitalopram (>15 mg) daily for 30 days.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest a potential comparative safety benefit of sertraline compared to citalopram/escitalopram at high doses related to recurrent falls. Additional comparative studies of individual antidepressants may better inform fall risk management and prescribing for older adults.

Antidepressant treatment trajectories and suicide attempt among Australians aged 45 years and older: A population study using individual prescription data

INTRODUCTION

Meta-analyses show antidepressant initiation has increased risk of suicidal behavior <25 years, no difference 25-64 years and reduced risk 65+ years. Estimating risks from RCTs has limitations and real-world population estimates are uncommon.

METHODS

A self-controlled case series reporting incidence rate ratio (IRR) between exposed and control periods for antidepressants associated with suicide attempt, in Australian older age adults. We included all cases with suicide attempt [hospital data for ICD codes (X60-X84)] and any antidepressant use (n = 689) by participants in the "45 and Up Study".

RESULTS

For all antidepressants the IRR for suicide attempt was elevated across all exposures, declining from 7.44 (95%CI 5.57-9.94) during the first 30 days, to 2.21 (1.73-2.81) at 91+ days. All four antidepressant sub-groups had higher IRRs for the first 30 day exposure: 2.43 (1.37-4.29) for TCAs, 4.06 (2.78-5.93) for SSRIs, 4.15 (2.65-6.50) for other antidepressants, and 4.92 (3.30-7.34) for SNRIs. Increased IRR persisted for 61- to 90-day exposures for SSRIs 2.42 (1.18-4.98) and SNRIs 2.66 (1.34-5.27).

CONCLUSION

Some older adults have increased risk of suicide attempt with antidepressant exposure, which may persist for months. Clinical guidelines should recommend a period of monitoring for treatment-emergent suicidal thoughts and behaviors in older adult patients.

Personality, symptom, and demographic correlates of perceived efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor monotherapy among current users with low mood: A data-driven approach

BACKGROUND

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often the first-line treatment option for depressive symptoms, however their efficacy varies across patients. Identifying predictors of response to SSRIs could facilitate personalised treatment of depression and improve treatment outcomes. The aim of this study was to develop a data-driven formulation of demographic, personality, and symptom-level factors associated with subjective response to SSRI treatment.

METHODS

Participants were recruited online and data were collected retrospectively through an extensive digital mental health questionnaire. Extreme gradient boosting classification with nested cross-validation was used to identify factors distinguishing between individuals with low (n=37) and high (n=111) perceived benefit from SSRI treatment.

RESULTS

The algorithm demonstrated a good predictive performance (test AUC=.88±.07). Positive affectivity was the strongest predictor of response to SSRIs and a major confounder of the remaining associations. After controlling for positive affectivity, as well as current wellbeing, severity of current depressive symptoms, and multicollinearity, only low positive affectivity, chronic pain, sleep problems, and unemployment remained significantly associated with diminished subjective response to SSRIs.

LIMITATIONS

This was an exploratory analysis of data collected at a single time point, for a study which had a different primary aim. Therefore, the results may not reflect causal relationships, and require validation in future prospective studies. Furthermore, the data were self-reported by internet users, which could affect integrity of the dataset and limit generalisability of the results.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that demographic, personality, and symptom data may offer a potential cost-effective and efficient framework for SSRI treatment outcome prediction.

Evaluation of psychosocial functioning in the acute treatment term of major depressive disorder: A 16-week multi-centered follow-up study

OBJECTIVE

Major depressive disorder is the leading cause of non-fatal burden, and disability in adulthood. Even though depression is well-treated in the acute term,psychosocial functioning does not get back to the premorbid level most of the time. In this present study, it is aimed to evaluate the outcome of the acute term treatment of major depressive disorder in terms of psychosocial functioning.

METHODS

The study is an open-label, observational, multi-center follow-up study for four months of patients with major depressive disorder according to DSM-5. Patients were evaluated with Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) and Short Form-36 (SF-36) at the beginning, and at the 2., 4., 8., 12. and 16.weeks.

RESULTS

100 patients were invited to the study and 56 patients completed the study.As a result of the treatment, the mean MADRS and SDS scores decreased significantly. All domains of SF-36 were improved significantly with the treatment. Unfortunately patients suffering from MDD could not reach the normative data,especially on the domains of social functioning, role emotional, pain, and general health perception. Treatment outcomes show that SNRI users presented higher scores on the domains of pain and physical functioning. However SSRI users showed better outcomes on the domains of mental health and vitality.

CONCLUSION

Our research corroborated that even patients gain symptomatic remission in MDD treatment, psychosocial dysfunction persists. It is also concluded that different antidepressant options may act differently on treatment outcomes.

Internet-Based Psychotherapy Intervention for Depression Among Older Adults Receiving Home Care: Qualitative Study of Participants' Experiences

BACKGROUND

Depression is common among homebound older adults. Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) is a promising but understudied approach for treating depression among older adults with disabilities.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to understand the experiences of homebound older adults who participated in a pilot feasibility trial of an iCBT for depression.

METHODS

The participants included 21 homebound older adults who participated in a generic iCBT program that was not specifically designed for older adults and 8 home care workers who assisted in the iCBT program. Informants completed semistructured individual interviews, which were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using methods informed by grounded theory. A hierarchical code structure of themes and subthemes was developed after an iterative process of constant comparisons and questionings of the initial codes. The data analysis was conducted by using dedoose, a web app for mixed methods research.

RESULTS

Three themes and various subthemes emerged related to participants' experience of the iCBT intervention, as follows: intervention impact, which involved subthemes related to participants' perceived impact of the intervention; challenges and difficulties, which involved subthemes on the challenges and difficulties that participants experienced in the intervention; and facilitators, which involved subthemes on the factors that facilitated intervention use and engagement.

CONCLUSIONS

iCBT is a promising intervention for homebound older adults experiencing depression. Home care workers reported improved relationships with their clients and that the program did not add a burden to their duties. Future programs should involve accessible technical features and age-adapted content to improve user experience, uptake, and adherence.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04267289; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04267289.

A Glimpse Into the Sexual Dimorphisms in Major Depressive Disorder Through Epigenetic Studies

Depression is an umbrella term used to describe a mood disorder with a broad spectrum of symptoms including a persistent feeling of sadness, loss of interest, and deficits in social behavior. Epigenetic research bridges the environmental and genetic landscape and has the potential to exponentially improve our understanding of such a complex disorder. Depression is also a sexually dimorphic disorder and variations exist within epigenetic modification sites between sexes. These sex-specific mediators may impact behavioral symptomology and could serve as therapeutic targets for treatments to improve behavioral deficits. This mini review will focus on the social behavior perspective of depression and specifically explore the sexually different epigenetic modifications on depression.

Effects of aspirin on the long-term management of depression in older people: a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial

Late-life depression is common and often inadequately managed using existing therapies. Depression is also associated with increased markers of inflammation, suggesting a potential role for anti-inflammatory agents. ASPREE-D is a sub-study of ASPREE, a large multi-centre, population-based, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of aspirin vs placebo in older Australian and American adults (median follow-up: 4.7 years) of whom 1879 were depressed at baseline. Participants were given 100 mg daily dose of aspirin or placebo. Depressive symptoms were assessed annually using the validated, self-rated short version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. There was a significant increase in depressive scores (0.6; 95% CI 0.2 to 0.9; χ² (1) = 10.37; p = 0.001) and a decreased score in the mental health component of a quality of life scale (-0.7; 95% CI -1.4 to -0.1; χ² (1) = 4.74; p = 0.029) in the aspirin group compared to the placebo group. These effects were greater in the first year of follow-up and persisted throughout the study, albeit with small to very small effect sizes. This study failed to demonstrate any benefit of aspirin in the long-term course of depression in this community-dwelling sample of older adults over a 5-year period, and identified an adverse effect of aspirin in the course of depression in those with pre-existing depressive symptoms.

Effects of mindfulness meditation interventions on depression in older adults: A meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

We examined the effects of MMIs on depression in older adults and explored the moderating effects of participant, methods, and intervention characteristics.

METHODS

We systematically searched 15 databases through June 2019 without date restrictions using the following search terms: (mindful* OR meditat*) AND depress* AND (older adult* OR elder OR aging OR senior OR geriatric*). Inclusion criteria were primary studies evaluating MMIs with adults ≥65 years old with depression measured as an outcome, a control group, and written in English. Two researchers independently coded each study and compared for discrepancies and consulted a third researcher in cases of disagreement. We used random-effects model to compute effect sizes (ESs) using Hedges' g, a forest plot, and Q and I² statistics as measures of heterogeneity; we also examined moderator analyses.

RESULTS

Nineteen studies included 1,076 participants (71.8 ± 5.2 years old). Overall, MMIs showed significantly improved depression (ES=.65, 95%CI 0.35, 0.94) compared to controls. With regards to moderators, Asians had a greater improvement in depression (1.28) than Europeans (.59) and North Americans (.32). Less than 5 weeks of MMIs showed greater improvement in depression (1.47) than longer periods (.55). MMIs with guided meditation reduced depression (.91) more than MMIs without (.42). Only one quality indicator, a priori power analysis, showed greater effects on depression (g = 1.0) than no power analysis (g=.35).

CONCLUSION

MMIs improved depressive symptoms in older adults. MMIs might be used as adjunctive or alternative to conventional treatment for depressed older adults.

Risk of Fractures in Stroke Patients Treated With a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

[Figure: see text].

Duloxetine versus 'active' placebo, placebo or no intervention for major depressive disorder; a protocol for a systematic review of randomised clinical trials with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis

BACKGROUND

Major depression significantly impairs quality of life, increases the risk of suicide, and poses tremendous economic burden on individuals and societies. Duloxetine, a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, is a widely prescribed antidepressant. The effects of duloxetine have, however, not been sufficiently assessed in earlier systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

METHODS/DESIGN

A systematic review will be performed including randomised clinical trials comparing duloxetine with 'active' placebo, placebo or no intervention for adults with major depressive disorder. Bias domains will be assessed, an eight-step procedure will be used to assess if the thresholds for clinical significance are crossed. We will conduct meta-analyses. Trial sequential analysis will be conducted to control random errors, and the certainty of the evidence will be assessed using GRADE. To identify relevant trials, we will search Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Excerpta Medica database, PsycINFO, Science Citation Index Expanded, Social Sciences Citation Index, Conference Proceedings Citation Index-Science and Conference Proceedings Citation Index-Social Science & Humanities. We will also search Chinese databases and Google Scholar. We will search all databases from their inception to the present. Two review authors will independently extract data and perform risk of bias assessment. Primary outcomes will be the difference in mean depression scores on Hamilton Depression Rating Scale between the intervention and control groups and serious adverse events. Secondary outcomes will be suicide, suicide-attempts, suicidal ideation, quality of life and non-serious adverse events.

DISCUSSION

No former systematic review has systematically assessed the beneficial and harmful effects of duloxetine taking into account both the risks of random errors and the risks of systematic errors. Our review will help clinicians weigh the benefits of prescribing duloxetine against its adverse effects and make informed decisions.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO 2016 CRD42016053931.

The Potential Role of Pharmacogenomics in Optimizing Drug Regimens for Older People with Major Depressive Disorder

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder common in older individuals. While many clinical guidelines endorse the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) as first-line therapy in the treatment of MDD, the use of SSRIs in older populations can result in medication-related adverse events. The use of pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing as a personalized tool to determine optimal SSRI therapy could offer a means to decrease morbidity and improve overall quality of life in older people. This manuscript will review the epidemiology and criteria of MDD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), discuss the prevalence of MDD in older individuals, review the clinical treatment guidelines for the use of SSRIs in MDD, provide a brief overview of PGx testing, and present evidence for SSRI therapy modifications based on PGx testing.

Importance of Distinguishing Reactive and Proactive Aggression in Dementia Care

Aggressive behavior is one of the most disturbing symptoms of Alzheimer disease and other progressive neurodegenerative dementias. Development of strategies for management of aggressive behaviors in people with dementia is hindered by a lack of recognition that aggression is not a uniform behavioral construct. It is possible to distinguish 2 types of aggression: reactive or impulsive aggression and proactive or premeditated aggression. Research concerning aggressive behaviors in people with dementia is hindered by scales describing behavioral symptoms of dementia which do not distinguish between reactive and proactive aggressions because they do not consider the factors leading to these behaviors. Reactive aggression is caused by lack of understanding, leading to rejection of care, while proactive aggression could be caused by a psychopathic personality, hallucinations or delusions, and other determinants. It is difficult to underestimate the importance of distinguishing reactive and proactive aggressions in people with dementia because there are different strategies that can be used for management of these behaviors. For reactive aggression, delayed treatment, distraction, improved communication, and change in treatment strategy is useful, while antipsychotic medication may be needed for treatment of proactive aggression. Dementia is increasing the risk of both types of aggressions and antidepressant treatment can be helpful. Most importantly, persons exhibiting reactive aggression should not be labeled "aggressors" because this behavior could be caused by unmet persons' needs, pain and poor communication with care providers.

Multiple cholinesterase inhibitors have antidepressant-like properties in the mouse forced swim test

There is high clinical interest in improving the pharmacological treatment of individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). This neuropsychiatric disorder continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, where existing pharmaceutical treatments such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors often have limited efficacy. In a recent publication, we demonstrated an antidepressant-like role for the acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (AChEI) donepezil in the C57BL/6J mouse forced swim test (FST). Those data added to a limited literature in rodents and human subjects which suggests AChEIs have antidepressant properties, but added the novel finding that donepezil only showed antidepressant-like properties at lower doses (0.02, 0.2 mg/kg). At a high dose (2.0 mg/kg), donepezil tended to promote depression-like behavior, suggesting a u-shaped dose-response curve for FST immobility. Here we investigate the effects of three other AChEIs with varying molecular structures: galantamine, physostigmine, and rivastigmine, to test whether they also exhibit antidepressant-like effects in the FST. We find that these drugs do exhibit therapeutic-like effects at low but not high doses, albeit at lower doses for physostigmine. Further, we find that their antidepressant-like effects are not mediated by generalized hyperactivity in the novel open field test, and are also not accompanied by anxiolytic-like properties. These data further support the hypothesis that acetylcholine has a u-shaped dose-response relationship with immobility in the C57BL/6J mouse FST, and provide a rationale for more thoroughly investigating whether reversible AChEIs as a class can be repurposed for the treatment of MDD in human subjects.

Sentiment Analysis of Online Reviews for Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors

BACKGROUND

Depression affects millions worldwide, with drug therapy being the mainstay treatment. A variety of factors, including personal reviews, are involved in the success or failure of medication therapy. This study looked to characterize the sentiment of online medication reviews of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRIs) used to treat depression.

METHODS

The publicly available data source used was the Drug Review Dataset from the University of California Irvine Machine Learning Repository. The dataset contained the following variables: ID, drug name, condition, review, rating, date, and usefulness count. This study utilized a sentiment analysis of free-text, online reviews via the sentimentr package. A Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparisons.

RESULTS

The average sentiment was higher in SSRIs compared to SNRIs (0.065 vs. 0.005, p < 0.001). The average sentiment was also found to be higher in high-rated reviews than in low-rated reviews (0.169 vs. -0.367, p < 0.001). Ratings were similar in the high-rated SSRI group and high-rated SNRI group (9.19 vs. 9.19).

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports the use of sentiment analysis using the AFINN lexicon, as the lexicon showed a difference in sentiment between high-rated reviews from low-rated reviews. This study also found that SNRIs have more negative sentiment and lower-rated reviews than SSRIs.

Vortioxetine as a new frontier in the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain: a review and update

Chronic neuropathic pain (CNP) is a disabling medical condition that impairs the health-related quality-of-life of affected patients. A high prevalence of anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance and cognitive impairment has frequently been reported in association with CNP, making the management of this disease complex and often multidisciplinary. Dual-acting agents such as selective serotonin and noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are considered particularly useful in the modulation of pain and in treatment of the mood disorders frequently associated with CNP. Recent evidence suggests that the top-down inhibitory control of pain involves the engagement and enhancement of descending endogenous opioidergic, cannabinoid and serotonergic systems, with the effect of serotonin being particularly related to the receptor subtypes that are preferentially activated; indeed serotonin induces analgesia via activation of 5-HT7 receptors and hyperalgesia via activation of 5-HT3 receptors. Vortioxetine (VO) is a novel multimodal serotonergic antidepressant with a unique mechanism of action. It has been demonstrated recently in experimental and clinical studies to have efficacy on pain hypersensitivity and on mood disorders. This drug inhibits the serotonin transporter with a high affinity, antagonises the 5-HT3, 5-HT1D and 5HT7 serotonin receptors, and activates the 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptors. In clinical studies, VO has proved effective at a dose of 10-20 mg/daily in short- and long-term treatment of patients with chronic orofacial pain, demonstrating a higher rate of clinical response and remission, a better acceptability, safety rate and tolerability, and a lower latency of action compared with other antidepressants. In the light of these recent findings, VO may be considered as a new pharmacological treatment also in relation to various types of CNP, particularly in elderly patients with concomitant mood disorders and cognitive impairment. The purpose of this review is to provide an up-to-date overview of the pharmacology and clinical applications of VO and to highlight its potential therapeutic properties and advantages in the management of CNP.

Pharmacist Identification of Medication Therapy Problems Involving Cognition Among Older Adults Followed by a Home-Based Care Team

BACKGROUND

Dementia, depression, and delirium alone or in combination (3Ds) can threaten independence among older adults, and polypharmacy may further accelerate decline. Clinical pharmacists can play an important role on multidisciplinary home-based care teams by identifying medication therapy problems (MTPs) involving cognition. Within a larger ongoing clinical trial, this paper describes cognition-related MTPs and pharmacist recommendations among older adults with 3Ds followed by a home-based care team.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of medication data among Medicare Advantage members aged ≥ 65 years living at home in Connecticut with International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision codes related to 3Ds; analyses include the first 105 subjects randomized to the home-based care team from March 2017 to January 2019. Advanced practice registered nurses conducted in-home medication reconciliations along with medical and cognitive assessments. Clinical pharmacists then conducted medication reviews centered on agents treating or exacerbating 3Ds. After review by the study advanced practice registered nurse, geriatrician, and psychiatrist, salient recommendations were forwarded to primary care providers for consideration. Medication therapy problems related to cognition were retrospectively abstracted and classified as: (1) indication: underuse or overuse; (2) effectiveness: ineffective agent or low dose (mainly for antidepressants); and (3) safety: undesirable effect (e.g., impaired cognition, dementia treatment side effects), unsafe medication (e.g., potentially inappropriate medications that can harm cognition), drug interaction, or high dose.

RESULTS

Pharmacists identified 166 cognitive MTPs, with a mean (standard deviation) of 1.58 (1.35) [range 0-6] MTPs per subject. Indication MTPs represented 34% of total MTPs, of which 79% involved underuse and 21% overuse; effectiveness represented 13% of total MTPs; and safety represented over half (52%) of all MTPs, with benzodiazepines and anticholinergics frequently implicated. Recommendations commonly included medication reduction (discontinuation 23% and dose reduction 19%). We found MTPs involving cognition among most (79%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study findings support the role of pharmacists on multidisciplinary teams to identify cognitively harmful medications, dementia treatment side effects, and untreated cognitive conditions.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02945085.

The Cardiovascular Effects of Newer Antidepressants in Older Adults and Those With or At High Risk for Cardiovascular Diseases

Depression is common in older adults and those with cardiovascular disease. Although selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors generally have been shown to be safe to treat depression in these patients, it is important to identify additional antidepressants when selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are not effective. This qualitative narrative review summarizes what is known about the cardiovascular side effects of some of the newer antidepressants. Twelve novel non-selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants were identified from the literature: venlafaxine, desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, milnacipran, levomilnacipran, mirtazapine, bupropion, vilazodone, vortioxetine, agomelatine, moclobemide, and ketamine-esketamine. A search restricted to publications written in English was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar with the following search criteria: the specific antidepressant AND (QT OR QTc OR "heart rate" OR "heart rate variability" OR "hypertension" OR "orthostatic hypotension" OR "cardiovascular outcomes" OR "arrhythmia" OR "myocardial infarction" OR "cardiovascular mortality") AND (geriatric OR "older adults" OR "late life depression" OR "cardiovascular disease" OR "hospitalized" OR "hospitalized"). The recommended use, dosing ranges, cardiovascular effects, and general advantages and disadvantages of each of the drugs are discussed. Levomilnacipran and vilazodone have not received enough study to judge their safety in older patients or in those with, or at high risk for, cardiovascular disease. There is at least some evidence for possible adverse events with each of the other newer antidepressants that could be of concern in these patients. Nevertheless, with careful administration and attention to the potential adverse reactions for each drug, these may provide safe effective alternatives for older adults and patients with cardiovascular disease who do not respond to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants. However, more research on the safety and efficacy of these drugs in these specific patient populations is urgently needed.

Patterns of Symptom Management Medication Receipt at End-of-Life Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Lung Cancer

CONTEXT

Older adults with advanced lung cancer experience high symptom burden at end of life (EOL), yet hospice enrollment often happens late or not at all. Receipt of medications to manage symptoms in the outpatient setting, outside the Medicare hospice benefit, has not been described.

OBJECTIVES

We examined patterns of symptom management medication receipt at EOL for older adults who died of lung cancer.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database to identify decedents diagnosed with lung cancer at age 67 years and older between January 2008 and December 2013 who survived six months and greater after diagnosis. Using Medicare Part B and D claims, we identified monthly receipt of outpatient medications for symptomatic management of pain, emotional distress, fatigue, dyspnea, anorexia, and nausea/vomiting. Multivariable logistic regression estimated associations between medication receipt and patient demographic characteristics, comorbidity, and concurrent therapy.

RESULTS

Of the 16,246 included patients, large proportions received medications for dyspnea (70.7%), pain (62.5%), and emotional distress (49.4%), with lower prevalence for other symptoms. Medication receipt increased from six months to one month before death. Women and dual Medicaid enrolled were more likely to receive medications for pain, emotional distress, dyspnea, and nausea/vomiting. Receipt of symptom management medications decreased with increasing age and racial/ethnical minorities.

CONCLUSION

Symptom management medication receipt was common and increasing toward EOL. Lower use by males, older adults, and nonwhites may reflect poor access or poor patient-provider communication. Further research is needed to understand these patterns and assess adequacy of symptom management in the outpatient setting.

Multinational Investigation of Fracture Risk with Antidepressant Use by Class, Drug, and Indication

OBJECTIVES

Antidepressants increase the risk of falls and fracture in older adults. However, risk estimates vary considerably even in comparable populations, limiting the usefulness of current evidence for clinical decision making. Our aim was to apply a common protocol to cohorts of older antidepressant users in multiple jurisdictions to estimate fracture risk associated with different antidepressant classes, drugs, doses, and potential treatment indications.

DESIGN

Retrospective (2009–2014) cohort study.

SETTING

Five jurisdictions in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Taiwan.

PARTICIPANTS

Older antidepressant users—subjects were followed from first antidepressant prescription or dispensation to first fracture or until the end of follow‐up.

MEASUREMENTS

The risk of fractures with antidepressants was estimated by multivariable Cox proportional hazards models using time‐varying measures of antidepressant dose and use vs nonuse, adjusting for patient characteristics.

RESULTS

Between 42.9% and 55.6% of study cohorts were 75 years and older, and 29.3% to 45.4% were men. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) (48.4%‐60.0%) were the predominant class used in North America compared with tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) in the United Kingdom and Taiwan (49.6%‐53.6%). Fracture rates varied from 37.67 to 107.18 per 1,000. The SSRIs citalopram (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.23; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11‐1.36 to HR = 1.43; 95% CI = 1.11‐1.84) and sertraline (HR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.10‐1.68), the SNRI duloxetine (HR = 1.41; 95% CI = 1.06‐1.88), TCAs doxepin (HR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.00‐1.86) and imipramine (HR = 1.16; 95% CI = 1.05‐1.28), and atypicals (HR = 1.34; 95% CI = 1.14‐1.58) increased fracture risk in some but not all jurisdictions. In the United States and the United Kingdom, fracture risk with all classes was higher when prescribed for depression than chronic pain, a trend that is likely explained by drug choice.

CONCLUSION

The fracture risk for patients may be reduced by selecting paroxetine, an SSRI with lower risk than citalopram, the SNRI venlafaxine over duloxetine, and the TCA amitriptyline over imipramine or doxepin. There is uncertainty about the risk associated with the atypical antidepressants. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1494‐1503, 2020.

Polyneuropathie im Alter

Das periphere Nervensystem ist im Laufe des Alternsprozesses Veränderungen unterworfen. So kommt es unter anderem zu einer Abschwächung von Muskeleigenreflexen und Propriozeption. Davon abzugrenzen sind Polyneuropathien als krankhafte Veränderungen des peripheren Nervensystems. Die jährliche Inzidenz von Polyneuropathien wird auf 118/100.000 geschätzt, die Prävalenz liegt bei etwa 1 %, für ältere Populationen werden 7 % angegeben. Die Ursachen sind vielfältig und ähnlich den Ursachen von Neuropathien des jüngeren Alters: Neben metabolischen, immunvermittelten, hereditären, toxischen und infektiösen Ätiologien können Polyneuropathien Ausdruck von Systemerkrankungen sein. Entsprechend der Altersverteilung der verschiedenen Ursachen sind Neuropathien im Zusammenhang mit Diabetes, monoklonalen Gammopathien und Malignomen im Alter häufiger. Allerdings nimmt der Anteil der kryptogenen Neuropathien, also ohne eindeutige Ursache, mit dem Alter zu. Bei alten Menschen führen Polyneuropathien zu einer zusätzlichen Beeinträchtigung der Mobilität und einem erhöhten Sturzrisiko, was auch die Abklärung funktioneller Fähigkeiten erforderlich macht.

Antidepressant Treatment for Late-Life Depression: Considering Risks and Benefits

This editorial comments on the article bySobieraj et al.