A report of eight HIV-seropositive patients with major depression responding to fluoxetine.
This pilot study examined the effectiveness of fluoxetine in depressed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive asymptomatic patients. Eight patients, participating in an AZT trial who met criteria for major depression syndrome (DSM-III-R), were treated with fluoxetine (20 or 40 mg/day) for 4 weeks. Initially, mean Hamilton Depression scores were 23.8 (range of 17-31), and improved to 6.4 (range of 3-10). All subjects maintained their remission over a 2-month follow-up. Fluoxetine treatment may be effective in treating major depression in HIV-seropositive asymptomatic patients.
Levine
S
S
Department of Psychiatry, University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles.
Anderson
D
D
Bystritsky
A
A
Baron
D
D
D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000627:therapeutic use
D005473:Fluoxetine; D015215:Zidovudine