RATIONALE: The novel antidepressant agomelatine acts as a melatonergic (MT(1) and MT(2)) receptor agonist and as a serotonin-2C receptor antagonist. Previous studies showed that agomelatine is able to restore disrupted circadian rhythms, which were implicated in the pathophysiology of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of agomelatine in the treatment of SAD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven acutely depressed SAD patients were included in an open study with agomelatine (25 mg/day in the evening) over 14 weeks. Efficacy assessments included the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (SAD version; SIGH-SAD), the Clinical Global Impression of Severity (CGI-S) and Improvement (CGI-I), the Circscreen, a self-rating scale for the assessment of sleep and circadian rhythm disorders, and the Hypomania Scale. RESULTS: Agomelatine led to a progressive and statistically significant decrease of SIGH-SAD, CGI-S, and CGI-I scores from week 2 onward (p < 0.001). Furthermore, scores on the Circscreen improved significantly during the study (p < 0.001). Treatment with agomelatine over 14 weeks yielded a response rate of 75.7% (SIGH-SAD <50% of baseline value) and a remission rate (SIGH-SAD <8) of 70.3% in the intention to treat sample. Scores on the Hypomania Scale were consistently low during the study. Agomelatine showed good overall tolerability: throughout the study only one adverse event (mild fatigue) was related to the study drug. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that seasonal depression may be effectively and safely treated with agomelatine.
RATIONALE: The novel antidepressant agomelatine acts as a melatonergic (MT(1) and MT(2)) receptor agonist and as a serotonin-2C receptor antagonist. Previous studies showed that agomelatine is able to restore disrupted circadian rhythms, which were implicated in the pathophysiology of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of agomelatine in the treatment of SAD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-seven acutely depressed SAD patients were included in an open study with agomelatine (25 mg/day in the evening) over 14 weeks. Efficacy assessments included the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (SAD version; SIGH-SAD), the Clinical Global Impression of Severity (CGI-S) and Improvement (CGI-I), the Circscreen, a self-rating scale for the assessment of sleep and circadian rhythm disorders, and the Hypomania Scale. RESULTS: Agomelatine led to a progressive and statistically significant decrease of SIGH-SAD, CGI-S, and CGI-I scores from week 2 onward (p < 0.001). Furthermore, scores on the Circscreen improved significantly during the study (p < 0.001). Treatment with agomelatine over 14 weeks yielded a response rate of 75.7% (SIGH-SAD <50% of baseline value) and a remission rate (SIGH-SAD <8) of 70.3% in the intention to treat sample. Scores on the Hypomania Scale were consistently low during the study. Agomelatine showed good overall tolerability: throughout the study only one adverse event (mild fatigue) was related to the study drug. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that seasonal depression may be effectively and safely treated with agomelatine.
Authors: Sami Leppämäki; Timo Partonen; Olli Vakkuri; Jouko Lönnqvist; Markku Partinen; Moshe Laudon Journal: Eur Neuropsychopharmacol Date: 2003-05 Impact factor: 4.600
Authors: N E Rosenthal; D A Sack; J C Gillin; A J Lewy; F K Goodwin; Y Davenport; P S Mueller; D A Newsome; T A Wehr Journal: Arch Gen Psychiatry Date: 1984-01
Authors: K Dahl; D H Avery; A J Lewy; M V Savage; G L Brengelmann; L H Larsen; M V Vitiello; P N Prinz Journal: Acta Psychiatr Scand Date: 1993-07 Impact factor: 6.392
Authors: O Van Reeth; L Weibel; E Olivares; S Maccari; E Mocaer; F W Turek Journal: Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol Date: 2001-05 Impact factor: 3.619
Authors: P V Strong; J P Christianson; A B Loughridge; J Amat; S F Maier; M Fleshner; B N Greenwood Journal: Neuroscience Date: 2011-09-24 Impact factor: 3.590
Authors: Barbara Nussbaumer-Streit; Amy Greenblatt; Angela Kaminski-Hartenthaler; Megan G Van Noord; Catherine A Forneris; Laura C Morgan; Bradley N Gaynes; Jörg Wipplinger; Linda J Lux; Dietmar Winkler; Gerald Gartlehner Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2019-06-17