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Sustained efficacy of gepirone-IR in major depressive disorder: a double-blind placebo substitution trial

Authors :
Amsterdam, Jay D.
Brunswick, David J.
Gibertini, Michael
Source :
Journal of Psychiatric Research. May2004, Vol. 38 Issue 3, p259. 7p.
Publication Year :
2004

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to evaluate the efficacy of gepirone immediate-release (gepirone-IR) for relapse prevention in outpatients with MDD who had responded to initial gepirone-IR therapy. Patients with MDD and a HAM-D25 score ⩾20 were treated with open-label gepirone-IR 20 to 90 mg/day for 6 weeks. Responders with a HAM-D17 total score ⩽12 or with a ⩾50% reduction in total HAM-D17 score and at least a “much improved” or “very much improved” CGI improvement score, were randomized to gepirone-IR or placebo for six additional weeks. Time to relapse was defined in six ways [(1) return to ⩾75% of baseline HAM-D17 total score; (2) CGI improvement score of “no change” or “minimally worse,” “much worse” or “very much worse” than baseline (⩾4); and four more definitions combining the HAM-D17 or CGI criteria with discontinuation, or discontinuation due to lack of efficacy] and analyzed for the ITT population using the LOCF method. Of 134 patients in the open-label phase, 70 were responders. In the double-blind phase, the relapse rate was significantly lower with gepirone-IR than with placebo (P⩽0.05) for four of the six definitions of relapse. Discontinuations of gepirone-IR due to adverse events were observed for 26.9% of patients in the open-label phase, and four patients (6%) during the double-blind phase. The most frequent adverse events with gepirone-IR were dizziness, nausea, headache, and somnolence, and with placebo were headache and paresthesia. A relapse-prevention study of longer duration is needed to confirm these preliminary results. Gepirone-IR was significantly more effective than placebo for relapse prevention and demonstrated acceptable tolerability in outpatient responders with MDD. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00223956
Volume :
38
Issue :
3
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Journal of Psychiatric Research
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
12375360
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2003.10.005