L. Franchini, M. Gasperini, D. Dotoli, E. Smeraldi - Vol. 6, Giugno 2000, num.2
Testo Immagini Bibliografia Summary Riassunto Indice
La menopausa come valore predittivo
del pattern di risposta alla terapia antidepressiva con inibitori selettivi
del reuptake della serotonina
Does menopause affect antidepressant response
to fluvoxamine?
L. Franchini, M. Gasperini, D. Dotoli, E. Smeraldi
Istituto Scientifico H. "San Raffaele",
Dipartimento di Scienze Neuropsichiche,
Università di Milano
The importance of gender in the expression of depressive disorders is suggested by the increased rates of major depression during the reproductive years. Numerous literature data exist that indicate a convergence of reproductive endocrine and central serotonergic systems.
Method
We investigated the possible role of a different hormonal patterns on the response to antidepressant treatment with fluvoxamine, in a sample of fertile and postmenopause women, considering also the effect of a concomitant hormonal replacement therapy.
Results
Results indicated a better response rate among fertile women (85% vs 78% p ≤ 0.0006) and a possible augmentation role of the concomitant hormonal replacement therapy in the postmenopause group.
Conclusions
Postmenopausal women showed a good response rate to fluvoxamine, even if lower, when compared with the response rate of fertile women. The addition of an estrogen replacement treatment could be considered as augmentation strategy with SSRIs in postmenopausal depressed women; however, a larger sample is required to confirm these results.