Fluoxetine for depression in diabetes: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
Depression is prevalent in patients with diabetes. It is associated with poor glycemic control and is linked to an increased risk for diabetic complications. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of fluoxetine for depression in patients with diabetes.


METHODS
Sixty patients with diabetes (type 1, n = 26; type 2, n = 34) and major depressive disorder entered an 8-week randomized placebo-controlled double-blind trial. Patients were given daily doses of fluoxetine (up to 40 mg/day). The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) were used to measure the severity of depression and to determine the percentage of patients who achieved substantial improvement or complete remission. GHb levels were obtained to monitor glycemic control.


RESULTS
Reduction in depression symptoms was significantly greater in patients treated with fluoxetine compared with those receiving placebo (BDI, -14.0 vs. -8.8, P = 0.03; HAMD, -10.7 vs. -5.2, P = 0.01). The percentage of patients achieving a significant improvement in depression per the BDI was also higher in the fluoxetine group (66.7 vs. 37.0%, P = 0.03). Additionally, trends toward a greater rate of depression remission (48.1 vs. 25.9%, P = 0.09 per the HAMD) and greater reduction in GHb (-0.40 vs. -0.07%, P = 0.13) were observed in the fluoxetine group.


CONCLUSIONS
Fluoxetine effectively reduces the severity of depression in diabetic patients. Our study demonstrated that after only 8 weeks, this treatment also produced a trend toward better glycemic control.
Lustman
P J
PJ
Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, and the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. lustmanp@psychiatry.wustl.edu
Freedland
K E
KE
Griffith
L S
LS
Clouse
R E
RE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D001786:Blood Glucose; D010919:Placebos; D005473:Fluoxetine