Sertraline is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. Sertraline is primarily prescribed for major depressive disorder in adult outpatients as well as obsessive–compulsive, panic, and social anxiety disorders in both adults and children. The efficacy of sertraline for depression is similar to that of older tricyclic antidepressants, but its side effects vary. Differences with newer antidepressants are subtler and also mostly confined to side effects. Evidence suggests that sertraline may work better than fluoxetine for some subtypes of depression. Treatment of panic disorder with sertraline results in a significant decrease of the number of panic attacks and an improved quality of life. For obsessive-compulsive disorder, sertraline is not as effective as cognitive behavioral therapy; the best results have been achieved by combining these two treatments.
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