SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF THE COMPLEX DEPRILIUM® IN REDUCING SUBCLINICAL SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES: DOUBLE-BLIND RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of the use of the Deprilium® complex for the relief of subclinical symptoms of depression in patients with NCD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: There were 140 patients involved in the study. To assess the subclinical symptoms, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) was used. In order to obtain additional information about the patient's condition, the Somatic Symptom Scale SSS-8 and the Quality of Life Scale (QOLS) were used. Patients were randomized by block randomization to an intervention group, which took Deprilium® complex, and a control group, which took placebo. RESULTS: Results: After 60 days a statistically significant difference was observed in all clinical indicators between the intervention group and the control group. The median value of the HAM-D scale differed between the groups by 6 points, significantly (p <0.000) lower results were observed in the intervention group, which participants were taking the Deprilium® complex. When comparing the indicators of the intervention group on the 1st and on the 60th day of the study, statistically significant changes (p <0.000) were observed in all three indicators. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The received results confirm the available evidence for the properties of SAMe in depression and complement them with evidence of the ef-fectiveness of the Deprilium® complex that contains SAMe and L-methylfolate with methylcobalamin, which together produce pharmacological and clinical synergy to reduce the severity of subclinical depressive manifestations in patients with NCD. Further studies of the effectiveness of the use of the Deprilium® complex in patients with NCD are required.

THERAPY OF POST-COVID DEPRESSION: A PROACTIVE PSYCHOSOMATIC APPROACH.

OBJECTIVE: Aim: Evaluation of the effectiveness of the early 8-week monotherapy with escitalopram as a form of proactive psychosomatic intervention for patients with post-COVID depression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: 44 patients with post-COVID depression were involved in a proactive psychosomatic intervention in the form of an 8-week intake of escitalopram (Medogram, Medochemiе Ltd) for 2-8 weeks in the case of a diagnosis of severe depression. Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D), Somatic Symptom Scale (SSS-8), Quality of Life Scale (CQLS) were used to assess symptoms and status dynamics. RESULTS: Results: Patients with post-COVID depression after an 8-week course of escitalopram therapy showed a significant reduction in mental and somatic symptoms of depression and an improvement in quality of life. At the time of enrollment in the study, 12 (28.58%) individuals had mild depression, 15 (35.71%) had moderate depression, and 15 (35.71%) had severe depression. At the end of the 8th weeks of taking the drug in 24 (57.14%) there were no signs of depression on the HAM-D scale, in 18 people there were subclinical manifestations of depression. The effectiveness of escitalopram in reducing the symptoms of depression in this study was 66%. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: With the introduction of pharmacotherapy with escitalopram there was a significant reduction in mental and so¬matic symptoms of depression and an improvement in quality of life. Escitalopram (Medochemie Ltd) may be an effective drug for psychopharmacotherapy of depressive symptoms in patients who have had COVID-19. Further studies are promising its effective¬ness in the treatment of post-COVID depression.