Which adverse effects influence the dropout rate in selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment? Results for 50,824 patients.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most frequently prescribed antidepressants due to their superior clinical efficacy, effectiveness, tolerability, and safety as compared to tricyclic antidepressants or monoamino oxidase inhibitors. However, despite these advantages SSRIs are still associated with a number of adverse drug reactions, especially in the early stages of treatment, which may lead to premature discontinuation of therapy in some cases. The aim of the present study was to assess the most common adverse drug reactions of SSRIs as well as their impact on dropout rate in a large study population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data for 50,824 patients treated for major depressive disorder with SSRIs for the first time was accessed via the Disease Analyzer database (IMS Health, Germany), providing information on SSRI adverse drug reactions and their influence on premature treatment discontinuation calculated by regression analysis. The presence of certain co-morbidities was also registered. RESULTS: The mean age was 54.5 ± 19 years, two-thirds of the study population being female. The adverse effects mentioned most frequently were: "discomfort" of the digestive system (10%), sleep disorders (8.6%), and heart rhythm disorders (4%); however, these were of tolerable severity as they did not significantly influence the dropout rate. Contrary to that, somnolence and younger age (≤50 years) in particular increased the chance of premature treatment discontinuation, while patients suffering from cardiovascular risk factors or osteoporosis tended to adhere to the therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, there is high tolerability for early SSRI treatment, whereas the occurrence of somnolence leads to discontinuation.

Career success perception and work-related behaviour of employees in geriatric care--a pilot study in a German geriatric care facility.

INTRODUCTION: One of the job characteristics of geriatric care is the long-term relationship of the employees to the elderly people they are interacting with. However, these relationships are characterised by the fact that despite the care provided by the employees, the patients experience physical suffering during the relationship, which often ends with their deaths. Although that is to be expected in this profession, it can be interpreted as personal failure and may be a reason why employees in geriatric care feel exhausted and perceive strain and stress in the job. AIM: The objective of this study was to explore the influence of career success perceptions on geriatric care staffs' coping and work-related behaviour. METHOD: Data were collected in 2008 in a German geriatric care facility using the standardised psychometric questionnaire 'AVEM' (Occupational Stress and Coping Inventory) as well as a previously developed ranking of career success dimensions in geriatric care. The 69 employees, who participated were of various age groups, had different work experience and were working in distinct areas of expertise. RESULTS: The results show that men experience higher success at work and have more career ambitions than women. Differences in age with regard to success perception at work could not be identified. However, there is an influence of the intensity of contact between patient and employees on the perception of career success. Also, a correlation between the career success dimension happiness in the job and work experience could be verified. CONCLUSION: The current results show no impact of subjective career success dimensions on work-related coping behaviour. At the same time, the results point to differences in the relevance of subjective career success dimensions regarding the demographics of employees in geriatric care. Thus, demographics may be considered as health resources and can have positive health impacts for employees in caring-professions.