title: Mirtazapine augmentation in depressed patients with sexual dysfunction due to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of mirtazapine augmentation in patients with sexual dysfunction induced by current selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine outpatients in remission from major depressive disorder with SSRI treatment and experiencing treatment-emergent sexual dysfunction were invited to participate and 33 (25 women and 8 men) were included in this 8-week open-label study. All patients continued her/his current SSRI treatment (dosages unchanged) and started on mirtazapine augmentation of 15 mg/day during the first week and 30 mg/day throughout the rest of the study. The Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAM-D), the psychotropic-related sexual dysfunction questionnaire (PRSexDQ), and the Golombok and Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS) were given to all patients at baseline and at each follow-up (end of the first, second, fourth, sixth, and eight weeks).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mirtazapine augmentation led to significant reductions in HAM-D, PRSexDQ, and GRISS scores throughout the study especially after week 4 and 48.5% of patients (n = 16) reported that they had no overall sexual dysfunction at the end of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mirtazapine augmentation is a good choice for the treatment of SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction, and the results are typically seen later after 4-8 weeks.
authors.affiliation: Gulhane School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nahit Kamil
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Ozmenler
authors.forename: Tunay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karlidere
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bozkurt
authors.forename: Sinan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yetkin
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doruk
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sutcigil
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cansever
authors.forename: Ozcan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Uzun
authors.forename: Fuat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ozgen
authors.forename: Aytekin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozsahin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008803:Mianserin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D008803:Mianserin; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors