- Summary of Peterson’s study results versus the current empirical evidence.
| Peterson's study results (percentage of participants' preference of antidepressant treatment) | Evidence (APA Guidelines 2000, revised) | |
|---|---|---|
| Efficacy | SSRIs (48%) | No difference |
| Sexual dysfunction | Fluoxetine (56%) | More common with paroxetine |
| Agitation | Fluoxetine (52%) | Comparable to other SSRIs |
| Discontinuation syndrome | Paroxetine (47%) | Occurs among short half-life antidepressants |
| Atypical depression | SSRIs (57%) | MAOIs |
| Melancholic depression | SSRIs (57%) | No specific recommendation, (pharmacotherapy and ECT leads to good responses) |
APA - American Psychiatric Association, ECT - electric shock treatment, MAOIs - Monaoamine Oxidase Inhibitors, SSRIs - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors