title: Sertraline plus deanxit to treat patients with depression and anxiety in chronic somatic diseases: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients in chronic somatic diseases are often accompanied with depression and anxiety, remission of which may be observed in the third or fourth week after applying common antidepressant medications. We investigate the efficacy and safety of sertraline plus deanxit on patients with depression and anxiety in chronic somatic diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  75 Patients who met the criteria were randomly assigned to deanxit group or placebo group: sertraline (75 mg/day) plus deanxit (one piece/day) (N = 38), or sertraline (75 mg/day) plus placebo (one piece/day) (N = 37) for 2 weeks, both groups received sertraline (75 mg/day) in the following 2 weeks. Changes from baseline to day 4, day 8, day 15, and day 29 in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A) total scores were the efficacy measures. Adverse events were monitored and registered systematically during the trial.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response rates for HAM-D scores in deanxit group and placebo group were significantly different on day 8(55.26% ± 2.56% VS 24.32% ± 2.19%, p = 0.006) and day 15(78.95% ± 3.89% VS 40.54% ± 4.18%, p = 0.001), while no statistical differences were observed on day 4 and day 29. Respectively, response rates for HAM-A scores on day 4 (34.21% ± 2.21% VS 8.11% ± 1.37%, p = 0.006), day 8 (57.89% ± 3.56% VS 18.92% ± 2.68%, p = 0.001) and day 15 (78.95% ± 4.37% VS 43.24% ± 4.68%, p = 0.002), favoring the deanxit group. However, HAM-A scores were not remarkably different at the end point. The overall safety profile of both groups was favorable with no distinct differences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The efficacy was exhibited in the deanxit group, with evidence for similar safety. The rapid onset of sertraline plus short-term deanxit indicated that it might be an inspiring strategy to manage depression and anxiety within the first two weeks in chronic somatic diseases.
authors: Department of Neurology, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangdong Neuroscience Institute, 510080, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, P P China. wanglimingd@126.com.
authors: Limin
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 510120, Guangzhou, China. zzhuoyuan@163.com.
authors: Zhuoyuan
authors: Z
authors: Zhong
authors: Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 510120, Guangzhou, China. 15913192315@126.com.
authors: Jingyang
authors: J
authors: Hu
authors: Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 510120, Guangzhou, China. irisrong1227@hotmail.com.
authors: Xiaoming
authors: X
authors: Rong
authors: Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 510120, Guangzhou, China. 13609794537@126.com.
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 510120, Guangzhou, China. songhuaxiao@aliyun.com.
authors: Songhua
authors: S
authors: Xiao
authors: Department of Neurology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 510120, Guangzhou, China. 13719438236@126.com.
authors: Zhonglin
authors: Z
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000873:Anthracenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005475:Flupenthixol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D020280:Sertraline / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; C000851:flupentixol, melitracen drug combination; D005475:Flupenthixol; D020280:Sertraline