title: Double-blind, placebo-controlled study of S-adenosyl-L-methionine in depressed postmenopausal women.
abstract: S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) is a naturally occurring substance which is a major source of methyl groups in the brain and has been found in previous studies to be an effective antidepressant. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of oral SAMe in the treatment of depressed postmenopausal women in a 30-day double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial. During the course of the study, 80 women, between the ages of 45 and 59, who were diagnosed as having DSM-III-R major depressive disorder or dysthymia between 6 and 36 months following either natural menopause or hysterectomy, underwent 1 week of single-blind placebo washout, followed by 30 days of double-blind treatment with either SAMe 1,600 mg/day or placebo. There was a significantly greater improvement in depressive symptoms in the group treated with SAMe compared to the placebo group from day 10 of the study. Side effects were mild and transient.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, University La Sapienza School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Salmaggi
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Bressa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicchia
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coniglio
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: La Greca
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Grazie
mesh_terms: D002979:Climacteric / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine