[Effectiveness of venlafaxine in the treatment of alcohol dependence with comorbid depression]. / Efectividad de la venlafaxina en el tratamiento de la dependencia de alcohol con depresión comórbida.

INTRODUCTION: There are no conclusive data on the effectiveness of antidepressant drugs in the treatment of comorbid cases of alcohol dependence and depression. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of venlafaxine on depression and on severity (need of treatment) of alcohol dependence and related problems. METHODS: Observational, open-label, multicenter, 24-week follow-up study. PATIENTS: 90 outpatients with diagnosis of alcohol dependence and associated major depression disorder (DSMIV criteria). OUTCOMES MEASURES: the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D17), European Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI) and Clinical Global Impression, severity and improvement subscales, (CGI-S and CGI-I). Evaluations were performed at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, 8 and 24. RESULTS: Mean age 44.94+/-9.74 years; 73.3 % man. HAM-D17 mean scores significantly decreased from baseline (24.85+/-5.94) to week 24 (5.976+/-4.68) and at each of the follow-up visits vs previous visit (p < 0.0005). Significant decreases from baseline to week 24 were obtained in four areas of EuropASI: medical status (2.12+/-2.45 to 1.07+/-1.68), alcohol use (5.29+/-2.24 to 3.04+/-2.35), family/ social relationships (3.68+/-2.36 to 1.71+/-2.06) and psychiatric status (5.61+/-1.81 to 2.67+/-2.03). Tolerance was excellent or good in 76.7% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Venlafaxine demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of depressive alcoholic patients. Furthermore, it seems to be useful to decrease the severity of problems related with the alcohol use.

Efectividad de la venlafaxina en el tratamiento de la dependencia de alcohol con depresión comórbida / Effectiveness of venlafaxine in the treatment of alcohol dependence with comorbid depression

Introducción. Faltan datos concluyentes sobre la efectividad de los antidepresivos en el tratamiento de los casos comórbidos de dependencia de alcohol y depresión. Objetivos. Determinar la efectividad de la venlafaxina sobre la depresión y sobre la gravedad (necesidad de tratamiento) de la dependencia de alcohol y problemas relacionados. Métodos. Estudio observacional, abierto, multicéntrico de 24 semanas de seguimiento. Pacientes. Noventa pacientes ambulatorios con diagnóstico de dependencia de alcohol y trastorno depresivo mayor (criterios DSM-IV). Medidas de resultados: escala de Hamilton de depresión (HAM-D17), Índice Europeo de Severidad de la Adicción (EuropASI) e Impresión Clínica Global (subescalas de gravedad y mejoría) (ICG-S e ICG-M). Evaluaciones basal y en las semanas 2, 4, 8 y 24. Resultados. Edad media: 44,94+-9,74 años; 73,3 % varones. Disminución significativa de las puntuaciones en la HAM-D17 desde la visita basal (24,85+-5,94) a la semana 24 (5,97+-4,68) y en cada una de las visitas de seguimiento frente a la visita previa (p<0,0005). Reducciones significativas en el EuropASI desde la basal a la semana 24 en las áreas: situación médica (2,12 ± 2,45 a 1,07+-1,68), uso de alcohol (5,29+-2,24 a 3,04+-2,35), relaciones familiares/sociales (3,68+-2,36 a 1,71+-2,06) y estado psiquiátrico (5,61+-1,81 a 2,67+-2,03). La tolerancia fue excelente o buena en el 76,7% de los casos. Conclusiones. La venlafaxina demostró ser efectiva en el tratamiento de la depresión en pacientes dependientes de alcohol. Además parece ser útil para reducir la gravedad

Introduction. There are no conclusive data on the effectiveness of antidepressant drugs in the treatment of comorbid cases of alcohol dependence and depression. Objectives. To determine the effectiveness of venlafaxine on depression and on severity (need of treatment) of alcohol dependence and related problems. Methods. Observational, open-label, multicenter, 24-week follow-up study. Patients. 90 outpatients with diagnosis of alcohol dependence and associated major depression disorder (DSMIV criteria). Outcomes measures: the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D17), European Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI) and Clinical Global Impression, severity and improvement subscales, (CGI-S and CGI-I). Evaluations were performed at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, 8 and 24. Results. Mean age 44.94+-9.74 years; 73.3 % man. HAM-D17 mean scores significantly decreased from baseline (24.85+-5.94) to week 24 (5.976+-4.68) and at each of the follow-up visits vs previous visit (p < 0.0005). Significant decreases from baseline to week 24 were obtained in four areas of EuropASI: medical status (2.12+-2.45 to 1.07+-1.68), alcohol use (5.29+-2.24 to 3.04+-2.35), family/ social relationships (3.68+-2.36 to 1.71+-2.06) and psychiatric status (5.61+-1.81 to 2.67+-2.03). Tolerance was excellent or good in 76.7% of the patients. Conclusions. Venlafaxine demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of depressive alcoholic patients. Furthermore, it seems to be useful to decrease the severity of problems related with the alcohol use