title: Sertraline hydrochloride treatment for patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complicated with depression: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a lack of randomized controlled trials to assess the effects of pharmacological treatments in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) complicated with moderate or severe depression.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of sertraline hydrochloride on improving the quality of life of patients with stable COPD complicated with depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized controlled trial, conducted from May to November 2013 in the Huai'an Second Hospital, Huai'an, China, enrolled 120 patients with stable COPD who had moderate or severe depression. Patients were randomly assigned to control and interventional groups (n = 60 in each group). In addition to the treatment for COPD, interventional group also received sertraline hydrochloride tablets 50 mg/day for 6 weeks, while the control group received placebo. The primary end point included COPD assessment test (CAT) scores and the secondary endpoint included 6-min walk distance and 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) scores. Parameters of spirometry and adverse events were also observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in improvements in the parameters of spirometry tests before and after the treatment with sertraline hydrochloride tablets between the placebo and interventional groups (P > 0.05). Patients in the sertraline hydrochloride group showed more changes in the HAMD-17 scores and CAT scores after treatment (P < 0.05) and travelled longer distances in the 6-min walk test than in the placebo group (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antidepressant treatment can improve the quality of life and exercise capacity of patients with depression, and it can also improve depression scores, but not lung function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Huai'an Hospital, Huai'an Second Hospital, Xuzhou Medical College, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Yuanqiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Huai'an Hospital, Huai'an Second Hospital, Xuzhou Medical College, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Yulong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Huai'an Hospital, Huai'an Second Hospital, Xuzhou Medical College, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Chuanqin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care Unit, Huai'an Hospital, Huai'an Second Hospital, Xuzhou Medical College, Huai'an, China.
authors.forename: Haichen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care Unit, Huai'an Hospital, Huai'an Second Hospital, Xuzhou Medical College, Huai'an, China.
authors.forename: Ziyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Huai'an Hospital, Huai'an Second Hospital, Xuzhou Medical College, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Liyang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Huai'an Hospital, Huai'an Second Hospital, Xuzhou Medical College, Huai'an, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: Yufeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Huai'an Hospital, Huai'an Second Hospital, Xuzhou Medical College, Huai'an, China.
authors.forename: Donghui
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation, Huai'an Hospital, Huai'an Second Hospital, Xuzhou Medical College, Huai'an, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D020280:Sertraline / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D020280:Sertraline
keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; depression; sertraline; therapy