Adjunctive antidepressant treatment with quetiapine in agitated depression: positive effects on symptom reduction, psychopathology and remission rates

Dannlowski, Udo, Baune, Bernhard T., Bockermann, Iris, Domschke, Katharina, Evers, Stefan, Arolt, Volker, Hetzel, Gunter, and Rothermundt, Matthias (2008) Adjunctive antidepressant treatment with quetiapine in agitated depression: positive effects on symptom reduction, psychopathology and remission rates. Human Psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental, 23 (7). pp. 587-593.

[img] PDF (Published Version)
Restricted to Repository staff only

View at Publisher Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hup.963
 
10
1


Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the adjunctive effects of quetiapine on overall treatment response and on specific symptoms in agitated depression.

Methods: Twenty-one patients suffering from an acute agitated major depressive episode were enrolled in the quetiapine/venlafaxine study group (QUET) in the context of a 6-week open-label, flexible dose, non-randomized case-control study. Eighteen matched depressed patients treated with antidepressants only served as controls (CON). Clinical assessment was carried out by the use of Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) 21 scale.

Results: Both groups had high HAM-D scores at baseline (27.6 vs. 27.5; p = 0.94). The QUET group displayed a significantly larger HAM-D decrease already after 1 week of treatment (p = 0.026, d = 0.77). This group difference increased slightly until week 6 (p = 0.005, d = 1.0). The remission rate in the QUET group (70%) was almost double that of the CON group (38.5%), p = 0.022. The overall effect originated from various HAM-D items indicating agitation, sleep problems and anxiety.

Conclusions: Adjunctive quetiapine treatment in agitated depression showed faster and greater response leading to higher remission rates compared with antidepressants alone. Overall clinical improvement was specifically related to single aspects of psychopathology indicating that quetiapine develops its positive effects through a variety of psychopharmacological properties.

Item ID: 6395
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1099-1077
Keywords: quetiapine; agitation; major depression; sleep; adjunctive treatment
Date Deposited: 22 Jan 2010 01:16
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1103 Clinical Sciences > 110319 Psychiatry (incl Psychotherapy) @ 100%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920410 Mental Health @ 100%
Downloads: Total: 1
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page