A Cochrane review included 7 studies with a total of 1 140 subjects. Four studies were included into meta-analyses, with a total of 137 subjects. Two of these studies investigated the properties of drugs not commonly used in this population and only two studies used the more common selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Available evidence offers weak support to the contention that antidepressants are an effective treatment for patients with depression and dementia. One study produced two significant differences in favour of treatment in the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) at 12 weeks (WMD –6.70, 95% CI –11.50 to –1.90) and in the psychiatrist's global rating (Peto odds ratio [OR] 7.33, 95% CI fixed 2.20 to 24.46). The number of patients suffering at least one adverse event at 6 to 12 weeks showed a significant difference in favour of placebo (OR 1.42, 95% CI fixed 1.07 to 1.89).