Controlled efficacy study of fluoxetine in dysthymia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

There have been very few controlled studies of antidepressants in dysthymia, particularly in samples diagnosed reliably and with an adequate length of follow-up. In this investigation, we measured the long-term outcome in a large group of patients meeting DSM-III-R criteria for dysthymia. This study was designed to investigate whether fluoxetine is effective in the treatment of dysthymia.

METHOD:

This randomised study including 140 patients, compared fluoxetine (91 patients) and placebo (49 patients) on a double-blind basis in two distinct phases: a short-term end-point (3 months with 20 mg/day fluoxetine) and a medium-term end-point (6 months) where the initial responders continued double-blind treatment unchanged and non-responders received an additional treatment of 20 mg/day fluoxetine.

RESULTS:

After three months of treatment, response was seen more frequently in the fluoxetine group (42/72) than in the placebo group (14/39, P < 0.0001). Improved patients at 3 months were still improved at 6 months. Furthermore, 50% of the nonresponders at 3 months improved and rated as responders at 6 months, after fluoxetine was increased to 40 mg daily.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study showed the significant and persistent action of fluoxetine on dysthymia. The finding that 50% of the non-responders at 3 months were improved at 6 months, after fluoxetine dosage was increased to 40 mg daily, argues in favour of treating dysthymic patients for at least 6 months, and with a higher dosage if the initial doses are ineffective.

• Authors: J M Vanelle, D Attar-Levy, M F Poirier, M Bouhassira, P Blin, J P Olié
• Journal: The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science (Br J Psychiatry) Vol. 170 Pg. 345-50 (Apr 1997) ISSN: 0007-1250 [Print] England
• PMID: 9246253 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
• Fluoxetine

Topics

• Adult
• Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation (therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Dysthymic Disorder (drug therapy)
• Female
• Fluoxetine (therapeutic use)
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Treatment Outcome