title: Quetiapine: novel uses in the treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Ontario, Toronto, Canada. arun_ravindran@camh.net
authors.forename: Arun V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Ravindran
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Subaie
authors.forename: Gebrehiwot
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abraham
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D003987:Dibenzothiazepines; D000069348:Quetiapine Fumarate