Long-term treatment of double depression: a preliminary study with serotonergic antidepressants.
1. There is increasing evidence that many patients with major depression also have coexisting dysthymia, and that antidepressant treatment may alleviate both conditions. 2. Open-label study of fluoxetine and trazodone for 18 patients meeting DSM-III-R criteria for concurrent dysthymia and major depression. 3. Fourteen patients completed three-month medication trials, and seven (50%) of completers) responded to treatment. At five months, eight (57.1%) were in remission. Fluoxetine was significantly better tolerated than trazodone, with respective dropout rates of 7.7% and 80%. 4. Findings are consistent with efficacy of serotonergic agents in this condition.
Hellerstein
D J
DJ
Psychiatric Outpatient Services, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, N.Y.
Yanowitch
P
P
Rosenthal
J
J
Hemlock
C
C
Kasch
K
K
Samstag
L W
LW
Winston
A
A
D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology*; D014196:Trazodone / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D005473:Fluoxetine; D012701:Serotonin; D014196:Trazodone