According to a new research, antidepressant medications are effectual at treating depressive disorder in patients having physical illnesses.

Cochrane researchers at King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre in United Kingdom conducted the methodical appraisal.

The assessment comprised 51 researches comparing antidepressant drugs to placebos.

The majority of studies examined selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants. Around 3603 patients suffering from physical illnesses comprising stroke, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's syndrome and cancer were involved.

The study scientists discovered that antidepressant medications were more effectual than placebos, although sufferers on antidepressants were more likely to go through adverse effects such as sexual dysfunction and xerostomia.

For every six people receiving treatment, one more could be expected to benefit at between six and eight weeks if they were taking antidepressants.

According to lead author Lauren Rayner of King's College London, "Although trials were small, they do seem to indicate a genuine benefit associated with antidepressants. However, patients with more severe physical illness and more severely depressed patients were not included in the trials. It is possible that those with more severe illness don''t respond so well to treatment with antidepressants. This is something that should be addressed in further studies."

Senior researcher Professor Matthew Hotopf, Institute of Psychiatry, King''s College London added, "As a clinician I see many patients struggling with the effects of physical disease on their mental health. Doctors should take into account patients'' preferences, symptoms and possible interactions with any other medications they are taking when prescribing antidepressants to physically ill patients". (With Input from Agencies)