title: Benzodiazepines as antidepressants: does GABA play a role in depression?
abstract: Benzodiazepines, the most widely prescribed psychotropic drugs, are often used in patients with depressive disorders, either alone or in combination with standard antidepressants. This review evaluates the efficacy of benzodiazepines (alprazolam, diazepam, chlordiazepoxide) as established in acute-phase, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in major depressive disorder. Metaanalyses using intent-to-treat, as well as adequate treatment exposure samples, revealed an overall efficacy of 47-63% and a drug-placebo difference of 0-27% for all benzodiazepines. Alprazolam, the best studied of the benzodiazepines, had a 27.1% (sd = 6.1%) greater response than placebo, which is comparable to standard antidepressants. Alprazolam, in particular, may be a useful treatment option for patients in whom standard antidepressant medications are contraindicated, poorly tolerated, or possibly ineffective. Alprazolam may have a more rapid onset of action for some patients. Benzodiazepines do not primarily affect biogenic amine uptake or metabolism, although they do augment gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) activity. The antidepressant efficacy of benzodiazepines, which are GABAA receptor agonists, is consistent with the GABA theory of depression.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Psychiatry Service, Dallas, Texas 75216, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petty
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fulton
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Rush
mesh_terms: D000525:Alprazolam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002707:Chlordiazepoxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018757:GABA Modulators; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D002707:Chlordiazepoxide; D003975:Diazepam; D000525:Alprazolam