Estela Salagre1, Brisa S Fernandes2, Seetal Dodd3, Daniel J Brownstein4, Michael Berk5. 1. Deakin University, IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, School of Medicine, and Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia; Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Servei de Psiquiatria, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: esalagre@gmail.com. 2. Deakin University, IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, School of Medicine, and Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia; Laboratory of Calcium Binding Proteins in the Central Nervous System, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. Electronic address: brisasf@gmail.com. 3. Deakin University, IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, School of Medicine, and Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia. 4. Monash University, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Melbourne, Australia. 5. Deakin University, IMPACT Strategic Research Centre, School of Medicine, and Barwon Health, Geelong, Australia; Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, Department of Psychiatry and Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: In epidemiological studies, statins appear to benefit mood, and there are now some randomized controlled trials examining the efficacy of statins. However, the role of statins in depression remains uncertain. Thus the aim of this paper was to assess the effect of statins on depressive symptoms by performing a meta-analysis of all double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled clinical trials (RCT) conducted in subjects with depression. METHODS: A systematic search was executed using PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov in November 30th, 2015 for all double-blind, RCT of statins versus placebo in persons with depressive symptoms. Sixty-seven potential articles were identified through search of electronic databases, of those three met inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. The outcome measure was change in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) scores associated with statin use. A meta-analysis was conducted and standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. GRADE was used to assess study quality. RESULTS: The three articles included provided data on 165 participants with moderate to severe depression. Of these, 82 were randomized to statins as an adjuvant therapy to antidepressant treatment (i.e., citalopram or fluoxetine) and 83 to the placebo arm. All studies were double-blind RCTs, with a follow-up of 6-12 weeks. The statin agents evaluated were lovastatin, atorvastatin, and simvastatin. When compared to placebo, statins, as add-on to treatment as usual, largely improved depressive symptoms as assessed by the HDRS (SMD=-0.73, 95% IC -1.04 to -0.42, p<0.001, 3 between-group comparisons, n=165). No serious adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that adjunctive treatment with statins could be useful for the treatment of depressive symptoms. Additional double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trials are necessary to settle the matter.
BACKGROUND: In epidemiological studies, statins appear to benefit mood, and there are now some randomized controlled trials examining the efficacy of statins. However, the role of statins in depression remains uncertain. Thus the aim of this paper was to assess the effect of statins on depressive symptoms by performing a meta-analysis of all double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled clinical trials (RCT) conducted in subjects with depression. METHODS: A systematic search was executed using PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov in November 30th, 2015 for all double-blind, RCT of statins versus placebo in persons with depressive symptoms. Sixty-seven potential articles were identified through search of electronic databases, of those three met inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. The outcome measure was change in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) scores associated with statin use. A meta-analysis was conducted and standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. GRADE was used to assess study quality. RESULTS: The three articles included provided data on 165 participants with moderate to severe depression. Of these, 82 were randomized to statins as an adjuvant therapy to antidepressant treatment (i.e., citalopram or fluoxetine) and 83 to the placebo arm. All studies were double-blind RCTs, with a follow-up of 6-12 weeks. The statin agents evaluated were lovastatin, atorvastatin, and simvastatin. When compared to placebo, statins, as add-on to treatment as usual, largely improved depressive symptoms as assessed by the HDRS (SMD=-0.73, 95% IC -1.04 to -0.42, p<0.001, 3 between-group comparisons, n=165). No serious adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that adjunctive treatment with statins could be useful for the treatment of depressive symptoms. Additional double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trials are necessary to settle the matter.
Authors: Nicola Veronese; Ai Koyanagi; Brendon Stubbs; Marco Solmi; Michele Fornaro; Brisa S Fernandes; Christoph Mueller; Trevor Thompson; André F Carvalho; Stefania Maggi Journal: Int J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2017-08-06 Impact factor: 3.485
Authors: E E M Knowles; K Huynh; P J Meikle; H H H Göring; R L Olvera; S R Mathias; R Duggirala; L Almasy; J Blangero; J E Curran; D C Glahn Journal: Eur Psychiatry Date: 2017-02-21 Impact factor: 5.361
Authors: Lakshmi N Yatham; Sidney H Kennedy; Sagar V Parikh; Ayal Schaffer; David J Bond; Benicio N Frey; Verinder Sharma; Benjamin I Goldstein; Soham Rej; Serge Beaulieu; Martin Alda; Glenda MacQueen; Roumen V Milev; Arun Ravindran; Claire O'Donovan; Diane McIntosh; Raymond W Lam; Gustavo Vazquez; Flavio Kapczinski; Roger S McIntyre; Jan Kozicky; Shigenobu Kanba; Beny Lafer; Trisha Suppes; Joseph R Calabrese; Eduard Vieta; Gin Malhi; Robert M Post; Michael Berk Journal: Bipolar Disord Date: 2018-03-14 Impact factor: 6.744
Authors: Bruno Agustini; Mohammadreza Mohebbi; Robyn L Woods; John J McNeil; Mark R Nelson; Raj C Shah; Anne M Murray; Michael E Ernst; Christopher M Reid; Andrew Tonkin; Jessica E Lockery; Michael Berk Journal: CNS Drugs Date: 2019-07 Impact factor: 5.749