Combination therapy with amisulpride and antidepressants: clinical observations in case series of elderly patients with psychotic depression |
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Authors: | Politis Antonis M Papadimitriou George N Theleritis Christos G Psarros Constantin Soldatos Constantin R |
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Affiliation: | Department of Psychiatry, Athens University Medical School, Eginition Hospital, Athens, Greece. |
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Abstract: | Psychotic depression is classified as a clinical subtype of major depressive disorder. The combination of an antidepressant with an antipsychotic agent has been demonstrated to be efficacious for the treatment of psychotic depression. However, in elderly patients with psychotic depression, little information is available on the efficacy of such combinations. Therefore, we have evaluated combination treatment for 5 weeks with amisulpride and antidepressants in non-demented elderly patients with psychotic depression. Eleven patients were treated with either citalopram 20-40 mg/day (n=5) or mirtazapine 30-60 mg/day (n=6), and amisulpride 75-100 mg/day for 5 weeks. Clinical status was evaluated at baseline and after 3 and 5 weeks using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale--17 items (HDRS) and the Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI-S). In 5 of the 11 patients there was remission of depression, while in another 5 patients there was partial remission of depression and in one patient there was no remission. Finally, there was resolution of psychotic symptoms in all the patients involved. One patient developed tremor and rigidity but insisted on continuing with the drug since her psychopathology has improved considerably after the addition of amisulpride to antidepressant treatment. In conclusion, some of the elderly patients with psychotic depression may benefit from the combination of amisulpride and antidepressant pharmacotherapy. |
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Keywords: | AIMS, Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale APA, American Psychiatric Association BPRS, Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale CGI-S, Clinical Global Impression Scale DSM, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ECG, electrocardiogram HDRS, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale—17 items MMSE, Mini Mental State Examination NIMH, National Institute of Mental Health SAS, Simpson–Angus Scale |
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