Open pergolide treatment of tricyclic and heterocyclic antidepressant-resistant depression.

BACKGROUND: Recently, a dopamine hypothesis of depression was put forward, and several studies have demonstrated that direct and indirect dopamine agonists have antidepressant effects.
METHODS: Using Clinical Global Impressions, we evaluated the efficacy of 4-week treatment of pergolide as an antidepressant adjuvant involving 20 unipolar depressed patients who were refractory to standard treatment with antidepressants.
RESULTS: One patients (5%) were very much improved, seven (35%) much improved, four (20%) minimally improved, six (30%) no change or worse, and two (10%) not assessed. There was no significant difference in any clinical factors between the pergolide responder and non-responder group. LIMITATIONS: This study was a non-blind open trial, and pergolide was added to tricyclic and heterocyclic antidepressants.
CONCLUSION: Pergolide may be useful as an antidepressant adjuvant, suggesting a potential role for dopamine-2 stimulation in the antidepressant response.