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 for major depressive disorder: results of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study.
INTRODUCTION Once-daily extended release quetiapine fumarate ( quetiapine XR ) monotherapy was evaluated in major depressive disorder ( MDD ) . METHOD This was an 8-week ( 6-week r and omized-phase ; 2-week drug-discontinuation/tapering phase ) , double-blind , parallel-group , placebo-controlled study . The primary outcome measure was Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale ( MADRS ) total score r and omization-to-Week 6 change . Other assessment s included the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression , the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety , and adverse events ( AEs ) . RESULTS 723 patients were r and omized : 182 , 178 , 179 , and 184 to quetiapine XR 50 , 150 , 300 mg/day , and placebo , respectively . At Week 6 , significant reductions occurred in MADRS score with quetiapine XR 50 mg/day ( -13.56 ; P<.05 ) , 150 mg/day ( -14.50 ; P<.01 ) and 300 mg/day ( -14.18 ; P<.01 ) versus placebo ( -11.07 ) ; at Day 4 , reductions for quetiapine XR ( titrated to 50 or 150 mg/day according to dose group ) versus placebo ( -2.9 ) were : -4.7 ( P<.01 ) , -5.2 ( P<.001 ) , and -5.1 ( P<.001 ) , respectively . At endpoint , MADRS response ( > or=50 % reduction in score ) was 42.7 % ( P<.01 ) , 51.2 % ( P<.001 ) , and 44.9 % ( P < or= .001 ) for quetiapine XR 50 , 150 , and 300 mg/day , respectively ; 30.3 % for placebo . Overall , quetiapine XR 150 mg/day provided consistently more positive secondary efficacy results than 50 mg/day and 300 mg/day versus placebo . The most common AEs in quetiapine XR-treated patients were dry mouth , sedation , somnolence , headache , and dizziness . CONCLUSION In patients with MDD , quetiapine XR monotherapy ( 50/150/300 mg/day ) is effective in reducing depressive symptoms , with improvement from Day 4 onwards . Safety and tolerability were consistent with the known profile of quetiapine
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 .