Buspirone augmentation of antidepressant therapy.
Thirty outpatients meeting DSM-III-R or DSM-IV criteria for major depression, single or recurrent episode, and failing to respond to an adequate trial of an antidepressant (>6 weeks at recommended dosage) received buspirone (20-30 mg/day) for 4 or 5 weeks in addition to their existing antidepressant. Of the 22 patients who had buspirone added to their selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant regimen (fluoxetine, paroxetine, or citalopram), 59% (13/22) showed complete or partial remission of their depressive symptomatology. Similarly, 63% (5/8) of patients treated with buspirone in addition to clomipramine showed complete or partial remission. The mean score on the Clinical Global Impressions Scale fell by 64% (from 4.7 to 1.7; p < 0.0001) in treatment responders (complete and partial). No serious side effects were observed during combination therapy. Seventy-nine percent (11/14) of initial responders (both complete and partial) who remained on augmentation therapy for at least 4 months were symptom-free at follow-up. Buspirone augmentation may produce marked clinical improvement in depressed patients who are initially unresponsive to standard antidepressant therapy.
Dimitriou
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B' Department of Psychiatry, Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki Medical School, Greece. edimitr@med.auth.gr
Dimitriou
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D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002065:Buspirone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002997:Clomipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D002065:Buspirone; D002997:Clomipramine; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors