title: Long-term response to successful acute pharmacological treatment of psychotic depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Data about follow-up after acute pharmacological treatment of psychotic depression are scarce.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 4 month open follow-up was done, preferentially with same medication as during acute treatment, of patients (n=59) with DSM-IV-TR major depressive disorder with psychotic features, aged 18 to 65 years, who had completed as responders an acute double-blind 7 week trial with imipramine, venlafaxine or venlafaxine plus quetiapine. Main outcome measures were Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and Clinical Global Impression Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients dropped out during the 4 month follow-up. Almost all patients (86.4%; 51/59) remained responder while remission rate increased from 59.3% (35/59) to 86.8% (46/53), independent of treatment. Relapse rate was low (3.8%; 2/53). Tolerability was good. Weight increased with all treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Limitations were the limited sample size and consequent limited statistical power. The treatment during follow-up was not double-blind.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Continuation treatment with the same medication that was effective in the acute treatment trial, remained effective during the 4 month follow-up in many patients leading to further improvement, and was well tolerated.
authors.affiliation: Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. j.wijkstra@umcutrecht.nl
authors.forename: Jaap
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wijkstra
authors.forename: Huibert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Burger
authors.forename: Walter W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: van den Broek
authors.forename: Tom K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Birkenhäger
authors.forename: Joost G E
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Janzing
authors.forename: Marco P M
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Boks
authors.forename: Jan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bruijn
authors.forename: Marc L M
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: van der Loos
authors.forename: Leonie M T
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Breteler
authors.forename: Robbert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Verkes
authors.forename: Willem A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Nolen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000341:Affective Disorders, Psychotic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride; D007099:Imipramine