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 .
Aripiprazole augmentation of antidepressants for the treatment of partially responding and nonresponding patients with major depressive disorder.
OBJECTIVE To determine the efficacy and tolerability of aripiprazole , a dopamine D2 and 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist , as augmentation of antidepressant treatment of partially responding and nonresponding patients with major depressive disorder . METHOD Fifteen patients with major depressive disorder ( diagnosed with a site-generated form described in the text ) and an incomplete response or no response to > or = 8 weeks of antidepressant ( selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor , venlafaxine , or bupropion ) monotherapy  were treated with aripiprazole augmentation in an 8-week , open-label study . Data were gathered from July 2003 to March 2004 . RESULTS The mean duration of antidepressant monotherapy at baseline was 43.1 weeks . At baseline , mean Clinical Global Impressions-Severity of Illness scale and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression ( HAM-D ) scores were 4.3 and 18.9 , respectively . After initiation of aripiprazole augmentation , 6 of 15 patients achieved remission ( HAM-D score < or = 7 ) at week 1 , and 9 of 15 patients remitted by week 2 . All 8 completers achieved remission by study endpoint . Akathisia in 2 patients who withdrew prematurely prompted a reduction in the starting dose of aripiprazole from 10 mg/day to 2.5 mg/day , result ing in a 50 % reduction in attrition due to akathisia ( 2/7 withdrew due to akathisia with the 10-mg starting dose , 1/8 withdrew due to akathisia with the 2.5-mg starting dose ) . Discontinuation rates after 4 weeks of treatment were lower for the 2.5-mg starting dose ( 1/8 patients ) than for the 10-mg starting dose ( 3/7 patients ) . Overall discontinuation rates at endpoint were lower for the 2.5-mg dose ( 3/8 patients ) than the 10-mg dose ( 4/7 patients ) . Response to aripiprazole augmentation did not appear to be related to the antidepressant used at study initiation . CONCLUSION Aripiprazole is an effective augmentation strategy for improving therapeutic response in patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder when administered in combination with st and ard antidepressant therapy . Based on this clinical signal , a double-blind , placebo-controlled trial is warranted
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 .