Paroxetine Use in Medically Ill Patients

Depression is a highly prevalent disorder in the adult population and often worsens the prognosis of comorbid medical illnesses. Recent research has illuminated biological mechanisms by which psychiatric and medical illnesses, as well as their treatments, may affect each other. The relationship between depression and ischemic heart disease is particularly well studied in this regard. The efficacy and safety of antidepressants in the treatment of depression in medically ill patients is an area of increasing interest. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are often considered the treatment of choice in this clinical setting because of their demonstrated efficacy and safety. This article reviews published studies of SSRIs in the treatment of depression in patients with medical illnesses, with a focus on the contributions of paroxetine.