Patterns of symptom improvement during antidepressant treatment of delusional depression.
We assessed the pattern of changes in depressive symptoms in delusional depressed inpatients treated openly with 300 mg/day of fluvoxamine for 6 weeks. We studied 59 inpatients affected by bipolar (n=23) and major depressive (n=36) disorders with psychotic features (DSM-IV) who showed complete responses to fluvoxamine treatment. Responses were evaluated using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-21, divided into: Core, Activity, Psychic anxiety, Somatic anxiety and Delusion clusters) administered at baseline and weekly until the 6th week. Random Regression Model (RRM) analysis was used to investigate the longitudinal time course of HAMD clusters. HAMD depressive symptom clusters decreased in a parallel manner from baseline to the end of the 6-week trial. The RRM analysis revealed no significant difference between HAMD clusters and the time course of the total HAMD score during treatment. Our data indicate that there is a simultaneous decrease in depressive symptoms during antidepressant treatment of delusional depressives.
Serretti
A
A
Department of Neuropsychiatric Sciences, Istituto Scientifico Ospedale San Raffaele, University of Milan School of Medicine, Milan, Italy. serretti.alessandro@hsr.it
Lattuada
E
E
Zanardi
R
R
Franchini
L
L
Smeraldi
E
E
D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D016666:Fluvoxamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D016666:Fluvoxamine