Feasibility of pharmacotherapy in HIV-related affective spectrum disorders: an open trial with fluvoxamine.
Among HIV patients treated for AIDS-related adjustment, major depressive disorders and other affective disorders, we assessed in an open study the feasibility of using a serotonergic antidepressant (fluvoxamine). Thirty-five seropositive patients with the above conditions (22 men and 13 women) were followed over a minimum period of four weeks. At the end of the treatment, a large number of patients (77%) showed marked improvement. "Nuclear" depressive and anxiety symptoms remitted, while the "somatic" ones seemed less sensitive to treatment. Treatment had to be terminated prematurely due to side effects in only two patients (6%).
Perretta
P
P
Psychiatric Clinic I, University of Pisa Via Roma 56, 56100 Pisa, Italy.
Nisita
C
C
Zaccagnini
E
E
Lorenzetti
C
C
Nuccorini
A
A
Cassano
G
G
McNair
D
D
Akiskal
H
H