This guide summarizes clinical research comparing the effectiveness and safety of commonly used antidepressants for adults with major depression. The medications included in this guide are the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other agents approved for depression in the United States over the past 20 years. The reviewed drugs are listed.
This guide does not cover depression in children or adolescents, postpartum depression, or depression in people with coexisting psychiatric disorders. It also does not include tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), St. John’s Wort, psychotherapy, light therapy, or exercise. It does not cover any combination of therapies.