The American Journal of Psychiatry

Reducing symptom severity in individuals with major depression can significantly improve occupational functioning, but it does not guarantee a complete return to premorbid functioning. A few sociodemographic and clinical features may be important factors in a patient’s full return to productivity.

Age at onset, severity of symptoms, and illness duration are all important moderators in tailoring depression treatment. This meta-analysis found that antidepressants were not effective in elderly patients with late-onset depression of short duration, but they were effective in patients with a longer duration of illness that was at least moderately severe.

Patients benefitting from high-dosage citalopram must decide between adhering to an FDA warning and possible worsening depression from too low a dosage. This well-controlled large study found no elevated risks of ventricular arrhythmia or all-cause mortality associated with citalopram dosages >40 mg/day.