Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Judd, L. L. Articles by Tollefson, G. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Judd, L. L. Articles by Tollefson, G. Depression Antidepressants

Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Fluoxetine for Acute Treatment of Minor Depressive Disorder

OBJECTIVE: Minor depressive disorder is both common and associated with significant psychosocial impairment. This study examined antidepressant treatment efficacy in a large group of patients with minor depressive disorder. METHOD: One hundred sixty-two patients with minor depressive disorder were randomly assigned to receive fluoxetine or placebo in a 12-week, double-blind study; 73% (59 of 81) of the patients in each treatment group completed the study. Patients were evaluated weekly with standard depression rating instruments and measures of psychosocial impairment. Hypotheses were tested by last-observation-carried-forward analysis of variance (ANOVA) and confirmed by mixed (random-effects) regression analysis. RESULTS: At baseline, minor depressive disorder patients were mildly to moderately depressed, with a corresponding degree of functional impairment. Over 12 weeks of treatment, both ANOVA and mixed regression showed fluoxetine to be superior to placebo as indicated by significantly greater improvement of fluoxetine-treated patients in scores on the 30-item clinician-rated Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, the 17-item and 21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Clinical Global Impression severity scale. Improvement in Global Assessment of Functioning Scale score was significantly greater for the fluoxetine group in mixed regression analysis only. Patients in both treatment groups reported a similar number and severity of adverse events during the 12-week treatment period. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians frequently encounter minor depressive disorder either as a prodromal or residual phase of illness in major depressive disorder or as de novo minor depressive disorder episodes. Fluoxetine is significantly superior to placebo in reducing minor depressive disorder symptoms within a 12-week period. Improvement in psychosocial function with fluoxetine may take longer than 12 weeks.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Gartlehner, B. N. Gaynes, R. A. Hansen, P. Thieda, A. DeVeaugh-Geiss, E. E. Krebs, C. G. Moore, L. Morgan, and K. N. Lohr Comparative Benefits and Harms of Second-Generation Antidepressants: Background Paper for the American College of Physicians Ann Intern Med, November 18, 2008; 149(10): 734 - 750. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Anderson, I. Ferrier, R. Baldwin, P. Cowen, L Howard, G Lewis, K Matthews, R. McAllister-Williams, R. Peveler, J Scott, et al. Evidence-based guidelines for treating depressive disorders with antidepressants: A revision of the 2000 British Association for Psychopharmacology guidelines J Psychopharmacol, June 1, 2008; 22(4): 343 - 396. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. Honig, A. M. G. Kuyper, A. H. Schene, J. P. van Melle, P. de Jonge, D. M. Tulner, A. Schins, H. J. G. M. Crijns, P. M. J. C. Kuijpers, H. Vossen, et al. Treatment of Post-Myocardial Infarction Depressive Disorder: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial With Mirtazapine Psychosom Med, September 1, 2007; 69(7): 606 - 613. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Bibliography PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY Focus, September 1, 2006; 4(4): 512. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Hafizi Depression: epidemic or pseudo-epidemic? J R Soc Med, September 1, 2006; 99(9): 436 - 436. [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. W. Croghan, M. Schoenbaum, C. D. Sherbourne, and P. Koegel A Framework to Improve the Quality of Treatment for Depression in Primary Care Psychiatr Serv, May 1, 2006; 57(5): 623 - 630. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. J Cowen Fluoxetine improves minor depressive disorders Evid. Based Ment. Health, May 1, 2005; 8(2): 36 - 36. [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. L. Kravitz, R. M. Epstein, M. D. Feldman, C. E. Franz, R. Azari, M. S. Wilkes, L. Hinton, and P. Franks Influence of Patients' Requests for Direct-to-Consumer Advertised Antidepressants: A Randomized Controlled Trial JAMA, April 27, 2005; 293(16): 1995 - 2002. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Peveler, T. Kendrick, and THREAD Study Group Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: THREAD trial may show way forward BMJ, February 19, 2005; 330(7488): 420 - 421. [Full Text]

				Fluoxetine for Minor Depression Journal Watch Psychiatry, January 12, 2005; 2005(112): 11 - 11. [Full Text]

				A. A. Nierenberg, P. Eidelman, Y. Wu, and M. Joseph Depression: An Update for the Clinician Focus, January 1, 2005; 3(1): 3 - 12. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Moran Fluoxetine Appears Effective In Less-Severe Depression Psychiatr News, December 17, 2004; 39(24): 29 - 29. [Full Text]

				Fluoxetine for Minor Depression Journal Watch Women's Health, December 8, 2004; 2004(1208): 7 - 7. [Full Text]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2004 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us