title: A randomized double-blind study of fluoxetine versus placebo in the treatment of dysthymia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of fluoxetine, a selective serotonergic antidepressant, in the treatment of dysthymia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five patients who met criteria for dysthymia, but not major depression, began randomized, double-blind 8-week trials of fluoxetine or placebo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 32 patients who completed the study, 10 (62.5%) of the 16 patients given fluoxetine and three (18.8%) of the 16 given placebo responded to treatment. Response was defined as 1) 50% or greater decrease in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score and 2) a score of 1 or 2 on the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) improvement subscale. Fluoxetine subjects showed significantly greater improvement at week 8 than placebo subjects on the Hamilton depression and CGI scales, but not on the Hopkins Symptom Check-list (58-item) or the Cornell Dysthymia Rating Scale.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When compared to placebo, fluoxetine showed short-term effectiveness in treating dysthymic symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatric Outpatient Service, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY 10003.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hellerstein
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yanowitch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosenthal
authors.forename: L W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Samstag
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kasch
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Burrows
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Poster
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cantillon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Winston
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D005473:Fluoxetine