Treatment of unipolar psychotic depression: a randomized, double-blind study comparing imipramine, venlafaxine, and venlafaxine plus quetiapine

J. Wijkstra*, H. Burger, W. W. van den Broek, T. K. Birkenhager, J. G. E. Janzing, M. P. M. Boks, J. A. Bruijn, M. L. M. van der Loos, L. M. T. Breteler, G. M. G. I. Ramaekers, R. J. Verkes, W. A. Nolen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

74 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

Objective:

It remains unclear whether unipolar psychotic depression should be treated with an antidepressant and an antipsychotic or with an antidepressant alone.

Method:

In a multi-center RCT, 122 patients (18-65 years) with DSM-IV-TR psychotic major depression and HAM-D-17 >= 18 were randomized to 7 weeks imipramine (plasma-levels 200-300 mu g/l), venlafaxine (375 mg/day) or venlafaxine-quetiapine (375 mg/day, 600 mg/day). Primary outcome was response on HAM-D-17. Secondary outcomes were response on CGI and remission (HAM-D-17).

Results:

Venlafaxine-quetiapine was more effective than venlafaxine with no significant differences between venlafaxine-quetiapine and imipramine, or between imipramine and venlafaxine. Secondary outcomes followed the same pattern.

Conclusion:

That unipolar psychotic depression should be treated with a combination of an antidepressant and an antipsychotic and not with an antidepressant alone, can be considered evidence based with regard to venlafaxine-quetiapine vs. venlafaxine monotherapy. Whether this is also the case for imipramine monotherapy is likely, but cannot be concluded from the data.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)190-200
Number of pages11
JournalActa Psychiatrica Scandinavica
Volume121
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar-2010

Keywords

  • affective disorders
  • psychotic
  • treatment outcome
  • BIPOLAR-II DEPRESSION
  • MAJOR DEPRESSION
  • DELUSIONAL DEPRESSION
  • PHARMACOLOGICAL-TREATMENT
  • NONPSYCHOTIC DEPRESSION
  • PLACEBO
  • FEATURES
  • METAANALYSIS
  • EFFICACY
  • ANTIDEPRESSANTS

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