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 .
Amisulpride versus imipramine and placebo in dysthymia and major depression. Amisulpride Study Group.
Amisulpride , a selective antagonist of D2 and D3 dopamine receptors , acts preferentially on presynaptic receptors increasing dopaminergic transmission at low doses . In a multicentre , 6 months , placebo-controlled trial , amisulpride ( 50 mg/daily ) was compared to imipramine ( 100 mg/daily ) in the treatment of patients with DSM-III-R criteria for primary dysthymia , dysthymia with major depression or major depression in partial remission . A total of 219 patients were included . Both analyses ( intention-to-treat and " per protocol ' analysis ) detected significant differences between groups ( active treatment vs. placebo ) on all main rating scales ( CGI , MADRS , ERD , and SANS ) . The number of patients reporting at least one adverse event was higher in the imipramine group than in the two other , mainly due to anticholinergic effects . Endocrine symptoms were more frequent in female patients treated with amisulpride . These results confirm the interest of a drug acting on dopaminergic transmission such as amisulpride in the treatment of depressed patients
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 .