A controlled trial of antidepressants in patients with Parkinson disease and depression.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Parkinson disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease affecting up to 1 million individuals in the United States. Depression affects up to 50% of these patients and is associated with a variety of poor outcomes for patients and their families. Despite this, there are few evidence-based data to guide clinical care.

Methods

An NIH-funded, randomized, controlled trial of paroxetine CR, nortriptyline, and placebo in 52 patients with PD and depression. The primary outcomes were the change in the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and the percentage of depression responders at 8 weeks.

Results

Nortriptyline was superior to placebo for the change in HAM-D (p < 0.002); paroxetine CR was not. There was a trend for superiority of nortriptyline over parox

SUBMITTER: Menza M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2677475 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature