title: Duloxetine treatment of major depressive episodes in the course of psychotic disorders.
abstract: During the course of psychotic disorders, patients often suffer from intercurrent major depressive episodes (MDEs), and suicides frequently occur. This constellation challenges further improvements in psychopharmacological therapy. The antidepressant duloxetine was recently introduced as a novel reuptake inhibitor of serotonin and noradrenaline. We provide the first reports on duloxetine treatment of MDEs in the course of psychotic disorders. In two cases this substance was successfully involved as an add-on to antipsychotic treatment consisting of clozapine or amisulpride. We achieved a response of the MDEs, as reflected by psychopathological rating scales. A significant rise in the clozapine serum level was detected, most likely because of pharmacokinetic interactions. Overall, the application of duloxetine was well tolerated; therefore, further investigations in prospective studies seem to be recommendable.
authors.affiliation: Central Institute of Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zink
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Knopf
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mase
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuwilsky
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Deuschle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D013876:Thiophenes; D000068736:Duloxetine Hydrochloride