title: Effectiveness of agomelatine on anhedonia in depressed patients: an outpatient, open-label, real-world study.
abstract: The aim of this real-world study was to evaluate the effect of agomelatine on anhedonia as primary endpoint in outpatients under treatment of major depressive episodes.
  
  
  
  The study was an open-label, multicenter, 8-week phase IV trial. Two hundred fifty-seven (257) patients were recruited, and 143 patients were included in the analysis. Agomelatine was administered orally as a 25-mg tablet. The dose could be increased to 50 mg after 2 weeks of treatment.
  
  
  
  An improvement in the severity of anhedonia (Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale total score) was observed from 8.5 points at baseline to 4.1 at week 8, statistically significant (p < 0.05) from the first week. Significant decreases in scores on the severity of depression (Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology 16-item Self-Report [QIDS-SR-16]), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale), and in overall clinical status (CGI) were also found over 8 weeks, independently from the presence of a first or recurrence episode. Response (QIDS-SR-16 score ≥ 50% of baseline) at week 8 was observed in 65.7% of the patients, while 49.6% of the patients achieved remission (QIDS-SR-16 score ≤ 5).
  
  
  
  Agomelatine was shown to be effective on anhedonia, depression, and anxiety in subjects with major depression. The pragmatic design of the study reflects real-world clinical practice providing interesting insights into routine care management.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Alejandro Korn, Melchor Romero, La Plata, Argentina.|Clinica City Bell, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Pedro Damian
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Gargoloff
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Docencia e Investigacion, Hospital Jose T Borda, CABA, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corral
authors.affiliation: Hospital Jose T. Borda, CABA, Argentina.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Herbst
authors.affiliation: ADINEU, CABA, Argentina.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marquez
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Science, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinotti
authors.affiliation: Clinica City Bell, La Plata, Argentina.
authors.forename: Pedro Rafael
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Gargoloff
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D059445:Anhedonia / Q000187:drug effects*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012074:Remission Induction; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D009281:Naphthalenes
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; C084711:agomelatine; D009281:Naphthalenes
keywords: agomelatine; anhedonia; open-label; real-world