Therapeutic efficacy of specific serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in dysthymia.

Pharmacological treatment of dysthymia is a contentious issue mainly because of the traditional view that this disorder has characterological origins and responds to psychotherapy. However, Akiskal's subtyping of primary dysthymia, which was based in part on its response to older antidepressants, can assist in the prediction of responses to antidepressants. Specific serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have equal efficacy but fewer adverse effects and greater tolerability than older antidepressants. Therefore, SSRIs appear to be a viable treatment option for these patients although there are few documented systematic studies of the use of these agents in primary dysthymia. An open study was conducted to determine the efficacy of fluoxetine in primary dysthymia (DSM-III-R and Akiskal's criteria). A good response was observed in the subaffective subtype but not in the character spectrum group. Overall, the antidepressant was tolerated well, with significant adverse effects reported and responders showing reductions in both depressive and anxious symptoms. These initial findings indicate a potential role for SSRIs in the pharmacotherapy of dysthymia.