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A randomised controlled trial assessing the use of citalopram, sertraline, fluoxetine and mirtazapine in preventing relapse in primary care patients who are taking long-term maintenance antidepressants (ANTLER: ANTidepressants to prevent reLapse in dEpRession): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

A randomised controlled trial assessing the use of citalopram, sertraline, fluoxetine and mirtazapine in preventing relapse in primary care patients who are taking long-term maintenance antidepressants (ANTLER: ANTidepressants to prevent reLapse in dEpRession): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
A randomised controlled trial assessing the use of citalopram, sertraline, fluoxetine and mirtazapine in preventing relapse in primary care patients who are taking long-term maintenance antidepressants (ANTLER: ANTidepressants to prevent reLapse in dEpRession): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Background: Antidepressants are used both for treating acute episodes and for prophylaxis to prevent future episodes of depression, also called maintenance treatment. This article describes the protocol for a randomised controlled trial (ANTLER: ANTidepressants to prevent reLapse in dEpRession) to investigate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in UK primary care of continuing on long-term maintenance antidepressants compared with a placebo in preventing relapse of depression in those who have taken antidepressants for more than 9 months and who are currently well enough to consider stopping maintenance treatment. Methods/design: The ANTLER trial is an individually randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which participants are randomised to remain on active medication or to take an identical placebo after a tapering period of 2 months. Eligible participants are those who: are between the ages of 18 and 74 years; have had at least two episodes of depression; and have been taking antidepressants for 9 months or more and are currently taking citalopram 20 mg, sertraline 100 mg, fluoxetine 20 mg or mirtazapine 30 mg but are well enough to consider stopping their medication. The participants will be followed up at 6, 12, 26, 39 and 52 weeks. The primary outcome will be the time in weeks to the beginning of the first episode of depression after randomisation. This will be measured using a retrospective version of the Clinical Interview Schedule - Revised administered at 12, 26, 39 and 52 weeks. Secondary outcomes will include depressive and anxiety symptoms, adverse effects, withdrawal symptoms, emotional processing tasks, quality of life and the resources and costs used. We will also perform a cost-effectiveness analysis based on results of the trial. Discussion: The ANTLER trial findings will inform primary care prescribing practice by providing a valid and generalisable estimate of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of long-term maintenance treatment with antidepressants in UK primary care. Trial registration: Controlled Trials ISRCTN Registry, ISRCTN15969819. Registered on 21 September 2015.

Antidepressants, Citalopram, Depression, Fluoxetine, Mirtazapine, Primary care, Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, Sertraline
1745-6215
1-13
Duffy, Larisa
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Bacon, Faye
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Clarke, Caroline S.
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Donkor, Yvonne
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Freemantle, Nick
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Gilbody, Simon
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Hunter, Rachael
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Kendrick, Tony
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Kessler, David
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King, Michael
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Lanham, Paul
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Lewis, Gemma
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Mangin, Dee
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Marston, Louise
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Moore, Michael
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Nazareth, Irwin
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Wiles, Nicola
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Lewis, Glyn
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Duffy, Larisa
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Bacon, Faye
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Clarke, Caroline S.
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Donkor, Yvonne
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Freemantle, Nick
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Gilbody, Simon
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Hunter, Rachael
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Kendrick, Tony
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Kessler, David
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King, Michael
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Lanham, Paul
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Lewis, Gemma
736f9361-ca4d-4347-bc75-18d21fda5052
Mangin, Dee
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Marston, Louise
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Moore, Michael
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Nazareth, Irwin
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Wiles, Nicola
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Lewis, Glyn
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Duffy, Larisa, Bacon, Faye, Clarke, Caroline S., Donkor, Yvonne, Freemantle, Nick, Gilbody, Simon, Hunter, Rachael, Kendrick, Tony, Kessler, David, King, Michael, Lanham, Paul, Lewis, Gemma, Mangin, Dee, Marston, Louise, Moore, Michael, Nazareth, Irwin, Wiles, Nicola and Lewis, Glyn (2019) A randomised controlled trial assessing the use of citalopram, sertraline, fluoxetine and mirtazapine in preventing relapse in primary care patients who are taking long-term maintenance antidepressants (ANTLER: ANTidepressants to prevent reLapse in dEpRession): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials, 20 (1), 1-13, [319]. (doi:10.1186/s13063-019-3390-8).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background: Antidepressants are used both for treating acute episodes and for prophylaxis to prevent future episodes of depression, also called maintenance treatment. This article describes the protocol for a randomised controlled trial (ANTLER: ANTidepressants to prevent reLapse in dEpRession) to investigate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness in UK primary care of continuing on long-term maintenance antidepressants compared with a placebo in preventing relapse of depression in those who have taken antidepressants for more than 9 months and who are currently well enough to consider stopping maintenance treatment. Methods/design: The ANTLER trial is an individually randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which participants are randomised to remain on active medication or to take an identical placebo after a tapering period of 2 months. Eligible participants are those who: are between the ages of 18 and 74 years; have had at least two episodes of depression; and have been taking antidepressants for 9 months or more and are currently taking citalopram 20 mg, sertraline 100 mg, fluoxetine 20 mg or mirtazapine 30 mg but are well enough to consider stopping their medication. The participants will be followed up at 6, 12, 26, 39 and 52 weeks. The primary outcome will be the time in weeks to the beginning of the first episode of depression after randomisation. This will be measured using a retrospective version of the Clinical Interview Schedule - Revised administered at 12, 26, 39 and 52 weeks. Secondary outcomes will include depressive and anxiety symptoms, adverse effects, withdrawal symptoms, emotional processing tasks, quality of life and the resources and costs used. We will also perform a cost-effectiveness analysis based on results of the trial. Discussion: The ANTLER trial findings will inform primary care prescribing practice by providing a valid and generalisable estimate of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of long-term maintenance treatment with antidepressants in UK primary care. Trial registration: Controlled Trials ISRCTN Registry, ISRCTN15969819. Registered on 21 September 2015.

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s13063-019-3390-8 - Version of Record
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Accepted/In Press date: 2 May 2019
Published date: 3 June 2019
Keywords: Antidepressants, Citalopram, Depression, Fluoxetine, Mirtazapine, Primary care, Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, Sertraline

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 431983
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/431983
ISSN: 1745-6215
PURE UUID: 3baff159-275b-48df-9922-3a3589437b7a
ORCID for Tony Kendrick: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-1618-9381
ORCID for Michael Moore: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-5127-4509

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Date deposited: 26 Jun 2019 16:30
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 03:00

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Contributors

Author: Larisa Duffy
Author: Faye Bacon
Author: Caroline S. Clarke
Author: Yvonne Donkor
Author: Nick Freemantle
Author: Simon Gilbody
Author: Rachael Hunter
Author: Tony Kendrick ORCID iD
Author: David Kessler
Author: Michael King
Author: Paul Lanham
Author: Gemma Lewis
Author: Dee Mangin
Author: Louise Marston
Author: Michael Moore ORCID iD
Author: Irwin Nazareth
Author: Nicola Wiles
Author: Glyn Lewis

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