No abstract

To compare the safety and antidepressant efficacy of paroxetine, imipramine, and placebo, data from six centres using the same protocol were pooled. A double-blind parallel-group design was used, with therapy lasting six weeks. From week 2 onwards, both the 240 paroxetine-treated and the 237 imipramine-treated patients were significantly different from the 240 placebo-treated patients, but no different from each other. Side-effects with paroxetine were less likely to lead to drop-out than with imipramine. Paroxetine had a possible earlier antidepressant effect than imipramine, and a possible earlier beneficial effect on anxiety symptoms associated with depression.

: The anxiolytic properties of nabilone, a synthetic cannabinoid resembling the natural cannabinoids, were studied in 25 outpatients suffering from anxiety. The drug was compared with a placebo in a double‐blind manner over a 28‐day treatment period. Patients were seen weekly by the physician and were rated by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety and the Patient's Global Evaluation as well as by patient‐rated evaluations. The results of the study showed a dramatic improvement in anxiety in the nabilone group when compared with placebo (P < 0.001). Side effects reported were dry mouth, dry eyes, and drowsiness. Patients did not report any of the subjective “altered state” experience of marihuana.

No abstract

Introduction Eleven hundred eighty-four depressed women were entered into five short-term (8 weeks) studies of gepirone-extended release (ER) vs. placebo for treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) (134001, 134002, and 134017), or atypical depressive disorder (ADD) (134004 and 134006). The effect of depression on sexual function was examined prior to treatment. Aim To determine the effect of depression on the prevalence of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) sexual dysfunction diagnoses and the Derogatis Inventory of Sexual Function (DISF) total score and domain scores and to measure the effect of severity of depression. Main Outcome Measures Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), DSM-IV diagnoses, and DISF total and domain scores. Methods DSM-IV diagnoses—hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD), sexual aversion disorder (SAD), female arousal disorder (FAD), and female orgasmic disorder (FOD)—were made by a trained psychiatrist. The HAMD-17 measured antidepressant efficacy. The DISF or its self-report version measured sexual function. To access the effect of severity of depression, baseline HAMD-17 scores were stratified as mild (&lt;18), moderate (19–22), severe (23–25), or extreme (26–33). All measures were taken at baseline. Results In this depressed female population, prevalence rates were HSDD 17.7%, SAD 3.4%, FAD 5.8%, and FOD 7.7%. These rates for females are within the reported normal (nondepressed) values. However, DISF scores are one or more standard deviations below population norms for total score. DISF domains are not equally affected: orgasm is most impaired, while sexual desire and sexual arousal are somewhat preserved. Higher HAMD scores result in lower DISF scores (greater sexual dysfunction). Conclusions In women, depression affects DISF scores more than DSM-IV diagnoses for sexual dysfunction. With increasing severity of depression (increased HAMD scores), sexual dysfunction becomes greater (lower DISF scores). For equal HAMD scores, DISF scores for MDD and ADD are the same.