Frequency of treatment-emergent sexual dysfunction and treatment effectiveness during SSRI or duloxetine therapy: 8-week data from a 6-month observational study.

Background: In randomised controlled trials, the frequency of treatment-emergent sexual dysfunction (TESD) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) at week 8 was lower with duloxetine than selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) therapy.

Methods: This 6-month, prospective, observational study compared the frequency of TESD (using the Arizona Sexual Experience [ASEX] scale) in MDD patients treated with duloxetine or SSRI monotherapy in the first 8 weeks in normal clinical practice.

Results: Physician-assessed TESD frequency at week 8 was comparable with duloxetine and SSRI monotherapy (23.

Twelve-month prospective, multinational, observational study of factors associated with recovery from mania in bipolar disorder in patients treated with atypical antipsychotics.

Objectives: Atypical antipsychotic agents constitute one therapeutic approach for bipolar disorder. Since disease course and outcome are variable, further studies are needed to complement limited data supportive of clinical decisions at treatment initiation.

Methods: This 12-month, prospective, observational study investigated factors associated with symptomatic remission (total YMRS score < or =12) and full clinical recovery (sustained reduction in CGI-BP-S overall score) in bipolar disorder during treatment with atypical antipsychotics (predominantly olanzapine, risperidone and quetiapine; alone or in combination with a psychotropic such as lithium or valproate) in actual clinical practice.