Posted by Jim on April 9, 1999, at 7:57:08
In reply to Dysthymia/Treatment Resistant Depressions, posted by JohnB. on April 8, 1999, at 23:24:43
Thanks, John. I'm usually pretty skeptical of these kind of claims with meds I don't know very well, so I did some checking around on the Psych-info database. Sure enough, there's some strong evidence on using the novel antipsychotic amisulpride as an antidepressant. Out of many studies, I've listed two of the non-technical ones below. -- Jim
TITLE: Amisulpride versus fluoxetine in patients with dysthymia or major depression in partial remission: A double-blind, comparative study.
AUTHOR: Smeraldi,-Enrico
SOURCE: Journal-of-Affective-Disorders. 1998 Feb; Vol 48(1): 47-56
ABSTRACT: In a multicentre, double blind, parallel group study, 281 patients (aged 18-70 yrs) with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-III-Revised (DSM-III-R) diagnosis of dysthymia or a single episode of major depression in partial remission were randomised to 3 mo of treatment with amisulpride 50 mg/day or fluoxetine 20 mg/day. The baseline Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score was reduced by at least 50% in 74.1% of patients with amisulpride and 67.4% with fluoxetine. No significant differences between treatment groups were found in the reductions in mean total score with the MADRS, Widloecher psychomotor retardation scale, Sheehan disability scale, and CGI. Anxiety measured by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety total mean score decreased significantly more with amisulpride (63%) than with fluoxetine (54%). There were 13 dropouts due to adverse events with amisulpride and 10 with fluoxetine. The number of patients reporting at least one adverse event was similar in the 2 groups (amisulpride 47.5%; fluoxetine 40.9%). As expected, in the amisulpride group endocrine-like adverse events in female patients were the most common, while nausea, dyspepsia, anorexia and insomnia occurred more frequently with fluoxetine. ((c) 1998 APA/PsycINFO, all rights reserved)
TITLE: Amisulpride in dysthymia: Results of a naturalistic study in general practice.
SOURCE: European-Psychiatry. 1996; Vol 11(Suppl 3): 145s-147s
ABSTRACT: A naturalistic study was conducted on the efficacy and tolerance of low doses of amisulpride in the treatment of dysthymia. A total of 109 patients (aged 17-81 yrs) received low doses (50-100 mg) of amisulpride for 4-wks. A global evaluation showed good or very good efficacy and tolerance in more than 80% of the patients. The social disability observed at baseline was significantly improved after the 4-wk treatment period. Few adverse events were observed and only 4 patients dropped out due to side effects. The results suggest that low doses of amisulpride might be a safe and effective treatment for dysthymia in clinical practice. ((c) 1997 APA/PsycINFO, all rights reserved)
poster:Jim
thread:4588
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990501/msgs/4608.html