title: Use of efavirenz is not associated with a higher risk of depressive disorders: a substudy of the randomized clinical trial ALIZE-ANRS 099.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Efavirenz (EFV) is a highly active antiretroviral drug, use of which is associated with frequent (although transient) neurosensorial adverse reactions. Whether the use of EFV is associated with the risk of depression or suicide remains controversial.
  
  
  METHODS
  ALIZE-ANRS (Agence Nationale de Recherches sur le SIDA et les Hepatites Virales) 099 was a 48-week randomized trial involving virologically suppressed, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients that compared the maintenance of a treatment regimen that contained protease inhibitors (177 subjects) with a switch to a once-daily combination of EFV, didanosine, and emtricitabine (178 subjects). We used the trial's adverse events reporting system and a self-administered Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale questionnaire to assess depressive disorders. Determinants were studied using a multivariate proportional hazards model adjusted for antiretroviral treatment, sex, age, HIV risk factor, history of depression, hepatic disorder, alcohol abuse, and HIV-related or non-HIV-related events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty cases of depressive disorder (26 cases of depression and 4 suicide attempts) occurred during treatment in 27 patients (12 patients [7%] and 15 patients [8%] in the protease inhibitor-based and EFV-based treatment arms, respectively; P = .56). In the proportional hazards model, only age (hazard ratio, 1.6 per 10 years younger; 95% confidence interval, 1.0-2.6) and a history of depressive disorder (hazard ratio, 5.0; 95% confidence interval, 2.1-12.0) were associated with a risk of depressive disorders. The proportion of depressive patients (24%), as determined on the basis of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale data, was stable during the follow-up period, without difference between treatment groups. Patients with a history of depressive disorder were more frequently depressed (53%) than were those without such history (22%; P = .03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The frequency of depressive disorders was high in this population, but the disorders were not related to EFV treatment. Younger age and a history of depression are important determinants for depression and should be considered for early detection and case management.
authors.affiliation: INSERM, U593, Bordeaux, France. Valerie.Journot@bordeaux.inserm.fr
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Journot
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chene
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: De Castro
authors.forename: Corinne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rancinan
authors.forename: Jill-Patrice
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cassuto
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Allard
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Vildé
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sobel
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garré
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Molina
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D048588:Benzoxazines; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010078:Oxazines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013405:Suicide
chemical_list: D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D048588:Benzoxazines; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors; D010078:Oxazines; C098320:efavirenz