title: Efficacy of fluvoxamine in treatment-refractory depression.
abstract: The efficacy of the potent and selective unicyclic serotonin reuptake inhibitor, fluvoxamine, was evaluated in 38 consecutively admitted depressed patients judged refractory to standard antidepressants using operationalized criteria. Twenty-eight patients completed a single-blind protocol involving greater than or equal to 2 weeks of placebo and 4-6 weeks of active fluvoxamine. Eight (29%) were judged responders to fluvoxamine alone, eight (29%) responded to lithium augmentation of fluvoxamine and two (7%) responded to fluvoxamine, lithium and perphenazine. These data suggest that selective and potent serotonin reuptake inhibitors may be effective in patients refractory to generally available antidepressant medications.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit, Ribicoff Research Facilities, Connecticut Mental Health Center, New Haven 06508.
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Price
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Charney
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Heninger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016666:Fluvoxamine; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010091:Oximes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010546:Perphenazine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D010091:Oximes; D008094:Lithium; D010546:Perphenazine; D016666:Fluvoxamine