RESUMO
1. Depression is frequent in the elderly but difficult both to diagnose and treat due to a number of distinctive features. 2. Tianeptine is a novel antidepressant with a reverse mode of action to that of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors yet with proven efficacy and safety. 3. 63 elderly patients (mean age:68.8 years; range:65-80 years) with depressive symptoms (major depression:55.6%; dysthymia:44.4%) were included in a 3-month open multicenter study with tianeptine (25 mg daily). 4. 43 patients (68.2%) completed the study. There were no drop-outs due to side-effects. Total Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale scores were significantly decreased (p < 0.01) on day 14, with a response rate of 76.7%. 5. Improvements were also observed in anxiety and cognitive performance. Side-effects were seen in only 11.7% of patients, with no changes in laboratory or ancillary safety parameters. Tianeptine is thus effective and well tolerated in this category of patient.
Assuntos
Envelhecimento/psicologia , Antidepressivos Tricíclicos/uso terapêutico , Transtorno Depressivo/tratamento farmacológico , Tiazepinas/uso terapêutico , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Antidepressivos Tricíclicos/farmacologia , Ansiedade , Cognição/efeitos dos fármacos , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Escalas de Graduação Psiquiátrica , Tiazepinas/farmacologia , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
Depression is frequent in the elderly but difficult both to diagnose and treat due to a number of distinctive features. Tianeptine is a novel antidepressant with a reverse mode of action to that of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors yet with proven efficacy and safety. 63 elderly patients (mean age: 68.8 years; range: 65-80 years) with depressive symptoms (major depression: 55.6%; dysthymia: 44.4%) were included in a 3-month open multicenter study with tianeptine (25 mg daily). 43 patients (68.2%) completed the study. There were no drop-outs due to side-effects. Total Montgomery and Asberg depression rating scale scores were significantly decreased (p < 0.01) on day 14, with a response rate of 76.7%. Improvements were also observed in anxiety and cognitive performance. Side-effects were seen in only 11.7% of patients, with no changes in laboratory or ancillary safety parameters. Tianeptine is thus effective and well tolerated in this category o patient.
