There were some beneficial effects compared to placebo or antidepressants but tolerability was worse .
Quetiapine was more effective than placebo treatment .
Aripiprazole and quetiapine and partly also olanzapine and risperidone augmentation showed beneficial effects compared to placebo .
Some evidence indicated beneficial effects of low-dose amisulpride for dysthymic people .
Most SGAs showed worse tolerability
BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder ( MDD ) is a common condition with a lifetime prevalence of 15 % to 18 % , which leads to considerable suffering and disability .
Some antipsychotics have been reported to induce remission in major depression , when added to an antidepressant .
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effects of second-generation antipsychotic ( SGA ) drugs ( alone or augmentation ) compared with placebo or antidepressants for people with MDD or dysthymia .
Extended release quetiapine fumarate monotherapy in major depressive disorder: a placebo- and duloxetine-controlled study.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of once-daily extended release quetiapine fumarate ( quetiapine XR ) as monotherapy treatment for major depressive disorder ( MDD ) . METHOD This 8-week ( 6-week active-treatment , r and omized phase ; 2-week posttreatment drug-discontinuation/tapering phase ) , multicenter , double-blind , r and omized , parallel-group , placebo- and active-controlled , phase 3 study was conducted between April 2006 and May 2007 . In total , 612 patients with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Fourth Edition (DSM-IV)-defined MDD were r and omly assigned to quetiapine XR 150 mg/day or 300 mg/day , duloxetine 60 mg/day ( active control ) , or placebo . The primary endpoint was the change from baseline to week 6 in Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale ( MADRS ) total score . RESULTS At week 6 , both doses of quetiapine XR ( p < .001 ) and duloxetine ( p < .01 ) significantly reduced mean MADRS total score versus placebo . A significant reduction was seen at week 1 with quetiapine XR 150 mg/day and 300 mg/day versus placebo ( p < .01 ) , but not with duloxetine . Response rates ( > or= 50 % reduction in MADRS total score ) at week 6 were significantly higher for both doses of quetiapine XR ( p < .01 ) and duloxetine ( p < .05 ) versus placebo . Remission rates ( MADRS score < or= 8) were significantly higher for quetiapine XR 300 mg/day and duloxetine versus placebo ( p < .05 ) , but not for quetiapine XR 150 mg/day . Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression , Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety , and Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness total scores and the proportion of patients with Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement scores of 1 or 2 ( " much/very much improved " ) were significantly improved with both doses of quetiapine XR and duloxetine versus placebo . The most common adverse events reported were dry mouth , sedation , and somnolence for quetiapine XR and nausea , headache , dizziness , and dry mouth for duloxetine . CONCLUSION Quetiapine XR monotherapy ( 150 mg/day and 300 mg/day ) is effective , with safety and tolerability consistent with the known profile of quetiapine XR , in the treatment of patients with MDD , with onset of symptom improvement demonstrated at week 1 . TRIAL REGISTRATION clinical trials.gov Identifier : NCT00321490
There were some beneficial effects compared to placebo or antidepressants but tolerability was worse .
Quetiapine was more effective than placebo treatment .
Aripiprazole and quetiapine and partly also olanzapine and risperidone augmentation showed beneficial effects compared to placebo .
Some evidence indicated beneficial effects of low-dose amisulpride for dysthymic people .
Most SGAs showed worse tolerability
BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder ( MDD ) is a common condition with a lifetime prevalence of 15 % to 18 % , which leads to considerable suffering and disability .
Some antipsychotics have been reported to induce remission in major depression , when added to an antidepressant .
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effects of second-generation antipsychotic ( SGA ) drugs ( alone or augmentation ) compared with placebo or antidepressants for people with MDD or dysthymia .