title: Efficacy and tolerability of venlafaxine in the treatment of primary dysthymia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Currently, there is no documentation of the efficacy of venlafaxine (a serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) in the treatment of dysthymia. This open-label pilot investigation examined the efficacy and tolerability of venlafaxine in patients with primary dysthymia without concomitant major depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients were treated with venlafaxine for 12 weeks, with a dose range of 75 mg to 225 mg daily (taken orally), and symptom changes were measured using standard instruments including the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant changes from pretreatment to posttreatment were observed (p < 0.001). Using the standard criteria of a 50% reduction in HAM-D scores, 73.3% of patients were rated as responders. About two-thirds of the patients reported adverse events, which were mostly mild and brief in duration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Venlafaxine may be useful in the treatment of primary dysthymia but placebo-controlled studies are required for confirmation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Ottawa, Ont.
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Ravindran
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Charbonneau
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Zaharia
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: al-Zaid
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiens
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Anisman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
chemical_list: D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride