A CONTROLLED TRIAL OF FLUOXETINE AND DESIPRAMINE IN DEPRESSED WOMEN WITH ADVANCED CANCER

Citation
Jc. Holland et al., A CONTROLLED TRIAL OF FLUOXETINE AND DESIPRAMINE IN DEPRESSED WOMEN WITH ADVANCED CANCER, Psycho-oncology (Chichester), 7(4), 1998, pp. 291-300
Citations number
28
Categorie Soggetti
Psychology,"Social Sciences, Biomedical
ISSN journal
10579249
Volume
7
Issue
4
Year of publication
1998
Pages
291 - 300
Database
ISI
SICI code
1057-9249(1998)7:4<291:ACTOFA>2.0.ZU;2-C
Abstract
Background. This study was conducted to determine the efficacy and tol erability of fluoxetine and desipramine in treating depressive symptom s in women with cancer. Method. In this prospective, 6-week, double-bl ind, placebo-controlled trial, we compared fluoxetine with desipramine in treating depressive symptoms in 40 women diagnosed with cancer. Sc ales used to measure efficacy and tolerability were the Hamilton Depre ssion Rating Scale (HAM-D), the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), the Clinical and Patient's Global Impression (CGI and PGI) scales, th e Functional Living Index for Cancer (FLIC), the Memorial Pain Assessm ent Card (MPAC), and the SF-36 Health Survey. Results. Fluoxetine and desipramine treatments improved depression and anxiety symptoms. There was a trend towards significance in improvement of FLIC scores (as ev idenced by greater numerical improvements with fluoxetine treatment). Fluoxetine treatment alone was associated with statistically significa nt improvements in MPAC Mood scale scores. Both treatments showed stat istically significant improvements in the quality of life SF-36 scores in Role Emotional, Social Functioning, Mental Health, and Vitality. C onclusions. Both fluoxetine and desipramine were effective and well-to lerated in improving depressive symptoms and quality of life in women with advanced cancer. Fluoxetine may offer greater benefit to these pa tients, as evidenced by greater improvements in fluoxetine-treated pat ients on several quality of life measures. Our results, while meaningf ul, should be confirmed in a larger patient sample. However, experienc e from studies of antidepressant use in patients with advanced cancer has shown that intercurrent disease and treatment variables make it di fficult to conduct large studies. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.