Estrogen and response to sertraline in postmenopausal women with major depressive disorder: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
Pilot study examining the effects of estrogen therapy (ET) on antidepressant response in postmenopausal women with major depressive disorder (MDD).


METHODS
Twenty-two subjects received sertraline at 50mg/day for one week, with an increase to 100mg/day at week 2 for a 10-week trial. Transdermal estrogen or placebo patches 0.1mg were randomly administered concurrent with the initiation of sertraline treatment. The 21 item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-21) was administered to all patients at baseline and weekly thereafter.


RESULTS
Both groups showed a similar significant reduction in HDRS-21 scores by the end of the study. There was no significant difference between the two treatment groups at the end of the 10-week trial, but the women receiving sertraline with ET showed significantly greater early improvement (weeks 2-4) compared to the women receiving sertraline with placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
Sertraline is an effective antidepressant for postmenopausal women with MDD. ET does not alter the response rate to antidepressant therapy however ET may play a role in accelerating the antidepressant response.
Rasgon
Natalie L
NL
Stanford University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 410 Quarry Road, Room 2368, Palo Alto, CA 94305-5723, USA. nrasgon@stanford.edu
Dunkin
Jennifer
J
Fairbanks
Lynn
L
Altshuler
Lori L
LL
Troung
Co
C
Elman
Shana
S
Wroolie
Tonita E
TE
Brunhuber
Martina V
MV
Rapkin
Andrea
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020280:Sertraline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
D004967:Estrogens; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D020280:Sertraline