Mirtazapine in major depression with comorbid generalized anxiety disorder.
BACKGROUND
A high proportion of patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have comorbid depressive illness. The presence of anxiety in depression has significant prognostic implications. Because of mirtazapine's early anxiolytic effects, the present study was undertaken as a preliminary investigation in patients with a diagnosis of major depression with comorbid GAD.


METHODS
Mirtazapine was administered to 10 patients with DSM-IV major depressive disorder and comorbid GAD in an 8-week open-label study. Mirtazapine was increased from an initial daily dose of 15 mg to a maximum daily dose of 45 mg.


RESULTS
Patients were found to have significant reductions in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression scores, Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety scores, and Beck Depression Inventory scores, with improvement noted after the first week of therapy and continuing improvement over the 8 weeks of study.


CONCLUSIONS
These positive preliminary findings support the further investigation of mirtazapine's potential value as a treatment for generalized anxiety disorder in addition to its established efficacy as an antidepressant drug.
Goodnick
P J
PJ
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami School of Medicine, Fla. 33136, USA. pgoodnick@aol.com
Puig
A
A
DeVane
C L
CL
Freund
B V
BV
D000328:Adult; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008803:Mianserin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D008803:Mianserin; D000078785:Mirtazapine