scholarly journals Impact of gender, depression severity and type of depressive episode on efficacy and safety of escitalopram: an observational study on major depressive disorder patients in southern India

Author(s):  
Tatiyana Mandal ◽  
Laxminarayana Kurady Bairy ◽  
Podila Satya Venkata Narasimha Sharma ◽  
Vijaya Lakshmi Valaparla

Abstract Background Antidepressant response is a complex trait influenced by clinical, demographic and genetic factors. Objectives To explore the influences of baseline depression severity, gender and type of depressive episode on efficacy and safety of escitalopram (10–20 mg/day) in South Indian patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods The study was conducted on 18–65-year-old patients (n = 151) suffering from a first or recurrent episode of MDD with a 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-17) score of ≥ 18 at baseline. Efficacy assessments were done using HDRS-17, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) at baseline and weeks 4, 8 and 12. Patients were monitored for adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Clinical outcomes were compared among various groups based on gender, type of depressive episode (first or recurrent episode) and baseline HDRS-17 scores (moderate depression—score between 17 and 23; severe depression—score ≥ 24). Results Among the 148 subjects who completed the 12-week study, 43.9% and 42.6% achieved response and remission, respectively. The decline in HDRS-17 and MADRS scores from baseline was significant (p value < 0.05) at all follow-up visits and a similar pattern was seen with CGI. Efficacy outcomes were better in the moderate baseline depression group compared with severe depression. There were no associations of efficacy with gender and type of depressive episode. A total of 247 adverse drug reactions (ADR) were reported and 119 (80.41%) subjects experienced at least one ADR during the study period. No serious ADR was reported. Male patients experienced more ADRs compared with females. The safety profile of escitalopram was similar across various groups based on baseline depression severity and type of depressive episode. Conclusion The study revealed that escitalopram is efficacious in south Indian MDD patients with a favourable safety profile. The efficacy was influenced by baseline depression severity whereas more ADRs were reported by male patients.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 440
Author(s):  
Giulia Serra ◽  
Maria Elena Iannoni ◽  
Monia Trasolini ◽  
Gino Maglio ◽  
Camilla Frattini ◽  
...  

Introduction: Severe depression is prevalent in young persons and can lead to disability and elevated suicidal risk. Objectives: To identify clinical and demographic factors associated with the severity of depression in juveniles diagnosed with a major mood disorder, as a contribution to improving clinical treatment and reducing risk of suicide. Methods: We analyzed factors associated with depression severity in 270 juveniles (aged 6–18 years) in a major depressive episode, evaluated and treated at the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital of Rome. Depressive symptoms were rated with the revised Children’s Depression Rating Scale (CDRS-R) and manic symptoms with the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS) Mania Rating Scale (K-SADS-MRS). Bivariate comparisons were followed by multivariable linear regression modeling. Results: Depression severity was greater among females than males (55.0 vs. 47.2), with the diagnosis of a major depressive disorder (MDD) vs. bipolar disorder (BD; 53.8 vs. 49.3), and tended to increase with age (slope = 1.14). Some symptoms typical of mania were associated with greater depression severity, including mood lability, hallucinations, delusions, and irritability, whereas less likely symptoms were hyperactivity, pressured speech, grandiosity, high energy, and distractibility. Factors independently and significantly associated with greater depression severity in multivariable linear regression modeling were: MDD vs. BD diagnosis, female sex, higher anxiety ratings, mood lability, and irritability. Conclusions: Severe depression was significantly associated with female sex, the presence of some manic or psychotic symptoms, and with apparent unipolar MDD. Manic/psychotic symptoms should be assessed carefully when evaluating a juvenile depressive episode and considered in treatment planning in an effort to balance risks of antidepressants and the potential value of mood-stabilizing and antimanic agents to decrease the severity of acute episodes and reduce suicidal risk.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S224-S224
Author(s):  
G. Serra ◽  
M.P. Casini ◽  
V. Maggiore ◽  
R.J. Baldessarini ◽  
S. Vicari

IntroductionSevere depression is greatly impairing during adolescence and involves a high risk for suicidal behaviors.Objectives and aimsIdentify clinical and demographic factors associated with severity of depression in adolescents diagnosed with a major mood disorder so as to improve clinical treatment and prevent suicidal behaviors.MethodsWe analyzed factors associated with depression severity in 145 severely ill adolescents diagnosed with a major affective disorder using the K-SADS (Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia) at the Mood Disorder Outpatient Program of Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital (Rome). Depressive and manic symptoms were rated with the CDRS-R (Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised) and K-SADS-MRS (Mania Rating Scale), respectively. Bivariate comparisons were followed by multivariable linear regression modeling.ResultsDepression severity was greater among females than males (mean CDRS scores: 53.0 vs. 42.8; P < 0.0001) and with major depressive versus bipolar disorder diagnosis (50.4 vs. 45.4; P = 0.001). Manic symptoms, including irritability, mood lability, crowded thoughts, delusions, and insomnia, were more likely with more severe depression; their number and severity correlated with CDRS-R total score (respectively, β = 1.53 and 5.44;both P < 0.0001). Factors independently and significantly associated with CDRS-R depression score in multivariate modeling were:– presence of suicidal ideation;– absence of ADHD;– female sex;– greater number of manic symptoms.ConclusionsSevere depression was associated with manic symptoms and with suicidal ideation among adolescents diagnosed with either bipolar or major depressive disorders. This relationship should be considered in treatment planning and suicide prevention, including consideration of mood-stabilizing and antimanic agents in the treatment of severe adolescent depression.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (01) ◽  
pp. 122-128
Author(s):  
Ralte Lalthankimi ◽  
Padmavathi Nagarajan ◽  
Vikas Menon ◽  
Jeby Jose Olickal

Abstract Objectives Mental disorders have a large impact on death by suicide. Hence, this study aims to determine the prevalence of suicidal behaviors among major depressive disorder (MDD) patients and the associated factors. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among individuals aged 18 to 65 years, diagnosed with MDD in the Psychiatry Outpatient Department of a Tertiary Care Center, Puducherry during March to October 2019. Severity of depression was assessed using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale was used to find the suicidal behaviors. Results For 166 participants in the study, mean (standard deviation) age was 40 (11) years and majority were females (76%). More than one-third (37%) had severe or very severe depression, and the prevalence of suicidal ideation, plan, and attempts were 83, 24, and 35%, respectively. After adjusting the covariates, the severity of depression and unemployment were significantly associated with suicidal attempts (adjusted prevalence ratios [aPR] = 11.4 and 1.9), and very severe depression was associated with suicidal ideation (aPR = 1.6). Among 140 individuals with suicidal ideation, 45 (32%) had an ideation frequency of 2 to 3 times/week, 69 (50%) had ideation for 1 hour, 36 (26%) could control ideation with little difficulty, and 12% had suicidal ideation mostly to end or stop their pain. Conclusion Suicidal ideation and attempts were significantly high in MDD patients, and the severity of depression was significantly associated with it. Early identification of high-risk suicidal behavior and implementation of effective preventive interventions are necessary to reduce death by suicide in these groups.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-123
Author(s):  
Michael S Zastrozhin ◽  
Valentin Y Skryabin ◽  
Marco Torrado ◽  
Anastasiya Petrovna ◽  
Alexander S Sorokin ◽  
...  

Introduction: Phenazepam therapy can often be ineffective and some patients develop dose-related adverse drug reactions. Aim. The purpose of this research was to study the effect of the CYP2C19*2 (681G>A, rs4244285) in patients with anxiety disorders and alcohol dependence taking phenazepam therapy. Materials & methods: Patients (175 males, average age: 37.16 ± 7.84 years) received phenazepam in tablet form for 5 days. Genotyping was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The statistically significant differences in the UKU Side-Effect Rating Scale scores on the fifth day of therapy: ( CYP2C19*1/*1) 2.00 [1.00; 2.00), ( CYP2C19*1/*2) 7.00 (7.00; 7.00), ( CYP2C19*2/*2) 9.00 (8.00; 9.00), p < 0.001. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the different efficacy and safety of phenazepam in patients with different genotypes of CYP2C19*2.


CNS Spectrums ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 326-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan G. Kornstein ◽  
Dayong Li ◽  
Yongcai Mao ◽  
Sara Larsson ◽  
Henning F. Andersen ◽  
...  

AbstractIntroduction: Recent data suggest that escitalopram may be more effective in severe depression than other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.Methods: Individual patient data from four randomized, double-blind comparative trials of escitalopram versus a serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) (two trials with duloxetine and two with venlafaxine extended release) in outpatients (18–85 years of age) with moderate-to-severe major depressive disorder were pooled. The primary efficacy parameter in all four trials was mean change in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score.Results: Significantly fewer escitalopram (82/524) than SNRI (114/527) patients prematurely withdrew from treatment due to all causes (15.6% vs. 21.6%, Fisher Exact: P=.014) and adverse events (5.3% vs. 12.0%, Fisher Exact: P <.0001). Mean reduction in MADRS score from baseline to Week 8 was significantly greater for the escitalopram group versus the SNRI group using the last observation carried forward (LOCF) approach [mean treatment difference at Week 8 of 1.7 points (P <.01)]. Similar results were observed in the severely depressed (baseline MADRS score ≥30) patient subset (mean treatment difference at Week 8 of 2.9 points [P <.001, LOCF]). Observed cases analyses yielded no significant differences in efficacy parameters.Conclusion: This pooled analysis indicates that escitalopram is at least as effective as the SNRIs (venlafaxine XR and duloxetine), even in severe depression, and escitalopram treatment was better tolerated.


2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 544-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. L. de Zwart ◽  
B. F. Jeronimus ◽  
P. de Jonge

Aims.For the past quarter of a century, Frank et al.’s (1991) consensus-based definitions of major depressive disorder (MDD) episode, remission, recovery, relapse and recurrence have been the paramount driving forces for consistency in MDD research as well as in clinical practice. This study aims to review the evidence for the empirical validation of Frank et al.’s proposed concept definitions and to discuss evidence-based modifications.Methods.A literature search of Web of Science and PubMed from 1/1/1991 to 08/30/2017 identified all publications which referenced Frank et al.’s request for definition validation. Publications with data relevant for validation were included and checked for referencing other studies providing such data.Results.A total of 56 studies involving 39 315 subjects were included, mainly presenting data to validate the severity and duration thresholds for defining remission and recovery. Most studies indicated that the severity threshold for defining remission should decrease. Additionally, specific duration thresholds to separate remission from recovery did not add any predictive value to the notion that increased remission duration alleviates the risk of reoccurrence of depressive symptoms. Only limited data were available to validate the severity and duration criteria for defining a depressive episode.Conclusions.Remission can best be defined as a less symptomatic state than previously assumed (Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, 17-item version (HAMD-17) ⩽4 instead of ⩽7), without applying a duration criterion. Duration thresholds to separate remission from recovery are not meaningful. The minimal duration of depressive symptoms to define a depressive episode should be longer than 2 weeks, although further studies are required to recommend an exact duration threshold. These results are relevant for researchers and clinicians aiming to use evidence-based depression outcomes.


2011 ◽  
Vol 89 (9) ◽  
pp. 647-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chuanjun Zhuo ◽  
Ying Wang ◽  
Hongjun Tian ◽  
Xiaohui Wang ◽  
Yuhui Chen ◽  
...  

This study used a model of ischemia–reperfusion injury to the brachial artery endothelium to investigate whether the protective role of ischemic postconditioning (IPostC) is impaired in patients with major depressive episode. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was measured before and after ischemia–reperfusion in the absence or presence of IPostC in 24 patients with major depressive disorder and 20 healthy controls. In addition, the severity of the depression, as assessed by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores, and plasma nitrogen dioxide (NOx) levels were also determined. Ischemia–reperfusion resulted in a significant decrease in FMD in both patients with a major depressive episode and healthy controls. IPostC effectively prevented this decrease in FMD in healthy controls, but not in patients with a major depressive episode. HDRS and BDI scores were markedly increased, but plasma NOx levels decreased, in patients with a major depressive episode compared with those in healthy controls. Correlation analysis showed that HDRS and BDI scores and plasma NOx levels were significantly associated with post-ischemia–reperfusion FMD. These results suggest that endothelial protection by IPostC is impaired in patients with major depressive disorder, which may be related to the decrease in endothelial nitric oxide production and the severity of the depression.


1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 435-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay D. Amsterdam ◽  
Felipe Garcia-Espana ◽  
Jan Fawcett ◽  
Frederick M. Quitkin ◽  
Frederick W. Reimherr ◽  
...  

2009 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 202-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luisa de Marillac Niro Terroni ◽  
Renério Fráguas ◽  
Mara de Lucia ◽  
Gisela Tinone ◽  
Patricia Mattos ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: Post-stroke major depressive episode is very frequent, but underdiagnosed. Researchers have investigated major depressive episode symptomatology, which may increase its detection. This study was developed to identify the depressive symptoms that better differentiate post-stroke patients with major depressive episode from those without major depressive episode. METHOD: We screened 260 consecutive ischemic stroke patients admitted to the neurology clinic of a university hospital. Seventy-three patients were eligible and prospectively evaluated. We assessed the diagnosis of major depressive episode using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV and the profile of depressive symptoms using the 31-item version of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. For data analysis we used cluster analyses and logistic regression equations. RESULTS: Twenty-one (28.8%) patients had a major depressive episode. The odds ratio of being diagnosed with major depressive episode was 3.86; (95% CI, 1.23-12.04) for an increase of one unit in the cluster composed by the domains of fatigue/interest and retardation, and 2.39 (95% CI, 1.21-4.71) for an increase of one unit in the cluster composed by the domains of cognitive, accessory and anxiety symptoms. The domains of eating/weight and insomnia did not contribute for the major depressive episode diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The domains of retardation and interest/fatigue are the most relevant for the diagnosis of major depressive episode after stroke.


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