A pilot, open study of sertraline in outpatients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) or with a history of TRD who responded but later relapsed

Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2003 Sep;18(5):293-6. doi: 10.1097/00004850-200309000-00006.

Abstract

While most depressed patients are prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) as an initial treatment, the use of SSRIs as a second or third-line treatment for depression is not as prevalent. This trial assessed the efficacy of sertraline for patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) or patients with a history of TRD who responded but later relapsed. Twelve patients with TRD who had not responded to a number of antidepressant trials (n=7), or had responded but subsequently suffered a relapse (n=5), were enrolled in an 8-week, open trial of sertraline. Both a completer analysis (n=6) and an intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis (n=12) were performed to evaluate sertraline response rates. Using a completer analysis, four patients (66.6%) were classified as responders; one (16.7%) as a partial responder and one (16.7%) as a non-responder. An ITT analysis resulted in five (41.7%) patients being classified as responders; one (8.3%) as a partial responder and six (50%) as non-responders. Of the four responders in the completer analysis, three (50%) achieved remission. Of the five responders in the ITT analysis, four (33.3%) achieved remission. Overall, two of seven (28.6%) non-responders and three of five (60.0%) relapsers responded to sertraline. The present results suggest the potential utility of sertraline for patients with TRD, or those with a history of TRD who responded but later relapsed, and warrant larger, placebo-controlled studies to further explore the potential role of sertraline for such patients.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antidepressive Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antidepressive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antidepressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Depressive Disorder / drug therapy*
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Recurrence
  • Sertraline / administration & dosage
  • Sertraline / pharmacology*
  • Sertraline / therapeutic use*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Sertraline