Mirtazapine in comorbid major depression and an alcohol use disorder: A double-blind placebo-controlled pilot trial.
This was a first double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study to evaluate the efficacy of the novel antidepressant medication mirtazapine for treating both the depressive symptoms and the level of alcohol consumption of subjects with comorbid major depressive disorder and an alcohol use disorder (MDD/AUD). The results of two previous studies of mirtazapine in MDD/AUD subjects had suggested efficacy for mirtazapine for decreasing their level of depressive symptoms, but level of alcohol consumption had not been assessed in those studies. All subjects in this 12-week pilot study were randomized to either mirtazapine or placebo, and also received motivational enhancement therapy. Between-group analyses involving the outcome measures of depressive symptoms, level of alcohol consumption, and level of alcohol craving indicated no significant differences between groups, possibly because of limited sample size. However, within-group t tests in the mirtazapine group showed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms by week 2, also noted at all subsequent assessments (weeks 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12) during the 12-week study. In contrast, no significant decrease in depressive symptoms was noted in the placebo group until week 8. No evidence of efficacy was found for mirtazapine for decreasing level of alcohol consumption in MDD /AUD subjects.
University of Pittsburgh, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. Electronic address: corneliusjr@upmc.edu.
Jack R
JR
Cornelius
University of Pittsburgh, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Tammy
T
Chung
University of Pittsburgh, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Antoine B
AB
Douaihy
University of Pittsburgh, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Levent
L
Kirisci
University of Pittsburgh, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Jody
J
Glance
University of Pittsburgh, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Julie
J
Kmiec
University of Pittsburgh, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Douglas
D
FitzGerald
University of Pittsburgh, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Maribeth A
MA
Wesesky
University of Miami, Department of Psychiatry, Miller School of Medicine, 1120 NW 14th Street, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
Ihsan
I
Salloum
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008803:Mianserin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D000078785:Mirtazapine; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D008803:Mianserin; D000078785:Mirtazapine
Alcohol use disorder; Comorbid; Major depression; Mirtazapine