title: An open study of buspirone augmentation of serotonin reuptake inhibitors in refractory depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We evaluated the efficacy of buspirone in the augmentation of antidepressant response to the serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five patients with major depressive disorder who had failed several previous treatments for their current depressive episode were included. After failing a trial of fluoxetine or fluvoxamine, they received buspirone in addition to the serotonin reuptake inhibitor for 3 weeks in an open clinical trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen of 25 patients had a marked or complete antidepressant response.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data provide clinical evidence suggesting that buspirone augmentation may be useful clinical alternative in depressed patients who fail to respond to a serotonin reuptake inhibitor.
authors.affiliation: Mood Disorders Program, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Joffe
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Schuller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002065:Buspirone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003891:Desipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016666:Fluvoxamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002065:Buspirone; D003891:Desipramine; D005473:Fluoxetine; D016666:Fluvoxamine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors