Clinical efficacy of tandospirone augmentation in patients with major depressive disorder: a randomized controlled trial

Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2003 Apr;57(2):183-7. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-1819.2003.01099.x.

Abstract

The purpose of the present paper was to investigate the efficacy of augmentation of clomipramine (CMI) by tandospirone in 36 untreated outpatients with major depressive disorder. Twelve patients were treated with CMI and tandospirone (T group), 12 with CMI and diazepam (D group) and 12 with CMI alone (C group) for 6 weeks. No statistically significant differences in the percentage improvement of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (17 items; HDRS-17) and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (14 items; HARS-14) scores were shown among the three treatment groups. However, at 2 weeks, the percentage improvement of HDRS-17 score in the T group tended to be higher than that in the D and C groups, although there was no statistically significant difference among the three treatment groups. No change in plasma prolactin level or adverse events was induced by the addition of tandospirone. These results suggest that 6 weeks of treatment with tandospirone or diazepam was not effective for augmentation of CMI in major depressive disorder patients. However, augmentation of antidepressants by tandospirone administration for a few weeks might induce early expression of antidepressive effects.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Anti-Anxiety Agents / adverse effects
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / administration & dosage*
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / adverse effects
  • Clomipramine / administration & dosage*
  • Clomipramine / adverse effects
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / blood
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / drug therapy*
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / psychology
  • Diazepam / administration & dosage
  • Diazepam / adverse effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Isoindoles
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Personality Inventory
  • Piperazines / administration & dosage*
  • Piperazines / adverse effects
  • Prolactin / blood
  • Pyrimidines / administration & dosage*
  • Pyrimidines / adverse effects
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists / administration & dosage*
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists / adverse effects
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Anxiety Agents
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
  • Isoindoles
  • Piperazines
  • Pyrimidines
  • Serotonin Receptor Agonists
  • tandospirone
  • Prolactin
  • Clomipramine
  • Diazepam