Prediction of response within the first 3 days to treatment with paroxetine for depression.
OBJECTIVE
In the treatment of depression, clinical and psychopharmacologic aspects have been investigated to predict the response to anti-depressants. Some trials have reported clinical improvement as early as the first week; however, few have investigated the early effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The aim of this study was to investigate therapeutic efficacy of paroxetine within the first 3 days of therapy onset.


METHODS
Subjects included 29 outpatients diagnosed at first interview with major depressive disorder according to DSM-IV criteria (June 2003 to January 2007). Paroxetine 5-20 mg/day was administered for at least 2 weeks. Treatment efficacy was defined as a > 50% decrease in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) total scores from baseline to the end of the second week. To determine efficacy within the first 3 days, patients completed the HAM-D as a self-rated questionnaire on the first and third days and at the end of the first, second, and fourth weeks.


RESULTS
Subjects were divided into 2 groups: successful (17 responders) and failed (12 non-responders). There was a significant difference between the reduction rates of self-rated HAM-D total scores on the third day (p < .01).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients responding to paroxetine in the early stages of treatment, the prediction of response within the first 3 days using the self-rated HAM-D is suggested.
Inagaki
Takuji
T
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University, Izumo, Japan. inagaki@med.shimane-u.ac.jp
Furuya
Motohide
M
Kawamukai
Tetsuya
T
Okazaki
Shihoh
S
Yasuda
Hideaki
H
Hayashida
Maiko
M
Miyaoka
Tsuyoshi
T
Nishida
Akira
A
Horiguchi
Jun
J