Paroxetine in the treatment of depressed patients with haematological malignancy: an open-label study.
OBJECTIVE
The efficacy and tolerability of paroxetine in the treatment of depressive disorders is well known, however, its efficacy and safety for the treatment of depression in patients with cancer has been poorly studied. Therefore this study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy and tolerability of paroxetine in the treatment of depressed patients with haematological malignancy (HM).


METHODS
Fifty-two patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) based on DSM-IV criteria along with comorbid HM were allotted to an 8 week trial with a flexible-dose regime of paroxetine in combination with their chemotherapy or supportive pharmacotherapy. The treatment response was assessed at baseline, week 2, week 4 and week 8 with the 17-item Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAM-D17), the Montgomery Asberg depression rating scale (MADRS) and the clinical global impression-severity (CGI-S). Side effects were collected with reported adverse events and laboratory tests throughout the study period.


RESULTS
44.2% of 52 patients completed the 8 week trial. Scores on the HAM-D17, MADRS and CGI-s (last observation carried forward, LOCF) at baseline were significantly reduced with a mean reduction of 30.5%, 32.8% and 39.1%, respectively, after 8 weeks treatment with paroxetine.


CONCLUSIONS
In this preliminary study, paroxetine was found to be effective and moderately tolerated in the treatment of depressed patients with HM, and the present study calls for a controlled study in this field to extend and form a framework on the psychopharmacological data in this field.
Pae
Chi-Un
CU
Department of Psychiatry, Kangnam St Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, 505 Banpo-Dong, Seocho-Gu, Seoul, 137-701, Korea.
Kim
Yoo-Jin
YJ
Won
Wang-Youn
WY
Kim
Hee-Je
HJ
Lee
Seok
S
Lee
Chang-Uk
CU
Lee
Soo-Jung
SJ
Kim
Dong-Wook
DW
Lee
Chul
C
Min
Woo-Sung
WS
Kim
Chun-Choo
CC
Paik
In-Ho
IH
Serretti
Alessandro
A
D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D017374:Paroxetine