title: [Optimization of the efficacy and safety of antidepressant therapy in patients of a geriatric psychiatric unit].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A comparative evaluation of the efficacy and safety of monotherapy with one of the modern antidepressants (venlafaxine, agomelatine, or fluvoxamine) and combination treatment of one of the above mentioned antidepressants with acetyl-L-carnitine (ALС, carnicetine) in the geriatric psychiatric unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two groups of elderly patients (aged 60-79 years) with mild or moderate depression, randomized according to a number of demographic and clinical characteristics, were treated with antidepressants in monotherapy or combined therapy (antidepressant/carnicetine) within 8 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Combination therapy with the neurotrophic agent carnicetine proved to be more effective compared to monotherapy. At the end of treatment, the more rapid clinical response has been shown for depression, anxiety, apathy, and cognitive dysfunction. Furthermore, combination therapy provides less adverse effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antidepressant/carnicetine combination therapy may be recommended for treatment of depression in elderly patients.
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Research Center, Moscow.
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Gavrilova
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Research Center, Moscow.
authors.forename: Ya B
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Kalyn
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Research Center, Moscow.
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Safarova
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Research Center, Moscow.
authors.forename: O B
authors.initials: OB
authors.lastname: Yakovleva
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Research Center, Moscow.
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Sheshenin
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Research Center, Moscow.
authors.forename: V V
authors.initials: VV
authors.lastname: Kornilov
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Research Center, Moscow.
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Shipilova
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D057565:Apathy / Q000187:drug effects; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016666:Fluvoxamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride; D009281:Naphthalenes
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D000108:Acetylcarnitine; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D016666:Fluvoxamine; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride; C084711:agomelatine; D009281:Naphthalenes