"Therefore, testing any single antidepressant on a group of depressed individuals will show that many of them do not improve," Stotland added. "There is a small group of depressed individuals who do not respond to any antidepressant."
The new study highlights the fact that treatment for depression needs to be tailored to an individual, and that the most effective treatment will often include multiple approaches, Stotland said. The study results also suggest that more long-term follow-up trials are needed to determine which patients are most likely to benefit from specific therapies.
"Some of the most exciting research in progress at the present time concerns our attempt to match the antidepressant to the patient from the outset; we may be able to perform laboratory tests or identify clinical factors that let us know in advance which antidepressant will work for each person," Stotland said. "That will be an enormous advance for the millions of people suffering from this very painful and potentially disabling disease."
In a prepared statement released late Tuesday, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Senior Vice President Ken Johnson said, "It is true that pharmaceutical products, such as antidepressants, can result in a differential response among different patients. It is for this reason that a variety of therapeutic options is important in health care -- so that each patient can receive the most effective treatment for his or her needs.
"Because of this, America's pharmaceutical research companies are dedicated to continuing their research into and development of potential new medicines to treat depression as well as the other disease that affect patients worldwide."
More information
To learn more about antidepressants, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
