Quetiapine: novel uses in the treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders.
BACKGROUND
Quetiapine, an atypical antipsychotic, has been approved for the treatment of schizophrenia, acute mania, bipolar depression and unipolar major depression. However, it is often used (off-label) to treat other depressive disorders and anxiety disorders in children and adults.


METHODS
This article reviews the evidence for the safety and efficacy of quetiapine in these populations, as both monotherapy and augmentation to other psychotropics.


RESULTS
This article provides an in-depth review of the published literature on the topic and also provides recommendations for use.


CONCLUSIONS
There is strong evidence to support the use of quetiapine in major depressive and generalized anxiety disorders, and preliminary support for treatment-resistant and psychotic depression. There is reasonable evidence of its benefits as an augmenting agent in obsessive-compulsive disorder, while data in other anxiety disorders are limited but promising. While long-term tolerability data are limited, quetiapine appears well tolerated in the short-term. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm the efficacy and tolerability of quetiapine, both short- and long-term, in many of these conditions.
Ravindran
Arun V
AV
University of Toronto, Ontario, Toronto, Canada. arun_ravindran@camh.net
Al-Subaie
Abdullah
A
Abraham
Gebrehiwot
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate