Nefazodone versus sertraline in outpatients with major depression: focus on efficacy, tolerability, and effects on sexual function and satisfaction.

Background: The efficacy, tolerability, and effects on sexual function and satisfaction of nefazodone and sertraline were compared in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study in outpatients with major depression.

Method: One hundred sixty patients, 18 years of age or older, who met DSM-III-R criteria for single or recurrent nonpsychotic major depressive episodes were randomly assigned to 6 weeks of treatment with either nefazodone (100-600 mg/day) or sertraline (50-200 mg/day). Symptoms were assessed before and during treatment using the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D-17), Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) Improvement scale, the CGI Severity of Illness scale, and a sexual function questionnaire.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled study of a CCK-B receptor antagonist, CI-988, in patients with generalized anxiety disorder.

This multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, randomized study assessed the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of a novel CCK-B antagonist CI-988 in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Patients received placebo or CI-988 (300 mg/day, thrice daily) for 4 weeks. Patients with a primary diagnosis of GAD according to DSM-III-R criteria were randomized.

Are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors well tolerated in somatizing depressives?

This retrospective evaluation included 89 patients who participated in two independent clinical investigations of the antidepressant medications paroxetine and fluoxetine. Baseline gastrointestinal (GI) somatic symptoms, as indicated by the baseline scores on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) items 11, 12, and 16, the Symptom Checklist (SCL) items 19 and 40, and the Covi Anxiety Scale somatic anxiety item were analyzed for their discriminative ability in predicting which patients would subsequently develop adverse GI side effects on medication. Subjects with baseline complaints of nausea or upset stomach (SCL #40), GI somatic symptoms (HAM-D #11 and #12, Covi somatic anxiety), or weight loss (HAM-D #16) were not statistically more likely to develop GI side effects on paroxetine or fluoxetine.