Placebo-controlled study of sertraline in depressed recently abstinent alcoholics.
BACKGROUND
Depression is common among recently abstinent alcoholics; however, its treatment has been little studied.


METHODS
Thirty-six depressed recently abstinent alcoholics were randomized in a 6-week double-blind placebo-controlled trial of sertraline 100 mg daily.


RESULTS
There was a significant group x time interaction for both the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). For the HDRS there were significant differences between the sertraline and placebo groups at weeks 3 and 6 and for the BDI at week 3. Also, patients receiving sertraline had significantly lower mean posttreatment HDRS and BDI scores than patients receiving placebo. Furthermore, significantly more of the patients receiving sertraline obtained a Clinical Global Impression rating of "very much improved."


CONCLUSIONS
Depressed recently abstinent alcoholics benefit from antidepressant medication.
Roy
A
A
Psychiatry Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, East Orange, NJ 07019, USA.
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020280:Sertraline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline