An open-label study of duloxetine hydrochloride, a mixed serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor, in patients with DSM-III-R major depressive disorder. Lilly Duloxetine Depression Study Group.
Duloxetine hydrochloride, a mixed reuptake inhibitor of serotonin and noradrenaline, was studied in a 6 week open-label uncontrolled multicentre design at a dose of 20 mg daily both in in- and outpatients meeting DSM-III-R criteria for unipolar major depressive disorder. Seventy-nine patients took part in the study. The mean score on the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale at baseline was 24.9 (SD 4.4), decreasing to 8.5 (SD 7.8) after 6 weeks using a last observation carried forward analysis. Clinical response, defined as a 50% reduction in 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores, occurred in 78.2% of patients, whereas remission, defined as a 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score of < or = 6, occurred in 60.3% of patients. Duloxetine hydrochloride was safe and well tolerated in this patient population.
Berk
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M
Department of Psychiatry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
du Plessis
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AD
Birkett
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Richardt
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D000293:Adolescent; D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D018759:Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D013876:Thiophenes