[Sertraline in the treatment of mixed anxiety and depression disorder].
BACKGROUND
Mixed anxiety and depression disorder (MAD) has been recognized in ICD-10 as a diagnostic group including those anxious and depressed patients who do not fit criteria for any major axis 1 disorders. Mad is usually treated with a combination on AD and BZD although recent reports suggest that SSRI might have both anxiolytic and AD intrinsic properties.


METHODS
36 patients diagnosed of MAD (ICD-10 criteria) underwent treatment with a flexible dose of sertraline for 8 weeks. No BDZ werre allowed during the trial. Efficacy was tested with the Clinical Global Improvement Scale and with changes in Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Scales. Personality scales, including the Cloninger's TCI and the Eysenck's EPQ were used to test the predictive value of personality traits in treatment.


RESULTS
Anxiety was reduced in 55% and depression in 60%. At the 8th week, 27 patients were responder (CGI 1-2). 2 patients discontinued the trial and only one due to adverse events.


CONCLUSIONS
Sertraline demonstrated excellent tolerability in these MAD patients, despite the high levels of baseline anxiety in the group. Efficacy was as high as described in patients with major depression. These results warrant further placebo controlled pharmacological trials of SSRI in MAD.
Carrasco
J L
JL
Departamento de Psiquiatría, Universidad de Salamanca, Madrid.
Díaz-Marsá
M
M
Sáiz
J
J
D015057:1-Naphthylamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D020280:Sertraline
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015057:1-Naphthylamine; D020280:Sertraline