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Combating depression in Huntington’s disease: effective antidepressive treatment with venlafaxine XR

Authors

Holl, Anna K., Wilkinson, Leonora, Painold, Annamaria, Holl, Etienne M., Bonelli, Raphael M.

Journal

International Clinical Psychopharmacology, Volume: 25, No.: 1, Pages.: 46-50

Year of Publication

2010

Abstract

Patients with Huntington’s disease (HD) often suffer from psychiatric symptoms including affective disorder, psychosis, irritability, and apathy, which may be present in all stages of the disease. However–despite the obvious likelihood that these symptoms may be reduced by antidepressive treatments–to date, the effectiveness of such treatments in HD has only ever been examined in case studies. Twenty-six HD patients (17 men), with a diagnosis of major depression, were studied. The symptoms of HD and depression were systematically measured using the Beck Depression Inventory and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression both at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment with venlafaxine XR. After 4 weeks of venlafaxine XR treatment, the symptoms of depression in HD patients decreased significantly relative to baseline. However, approximately one in five patients developed significant venlafaxine-related side effects (nausea and irritability). Venlafaxine XR is highly effective in the treatment of depression in HD, although it may produce unpleasant side effects. Further studies are required to establish the most suitable treatment for depression in HD.;

Bibtex Citation

@article{Holl_2010, doi = {10.1097/yic.0b013e3283348018}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/YIC.0b013e3283348018}, year = 2010, month = {jan}, publisher = {Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)}, volume = {25}, number = {1}, pages = {46--50}, author = {Anna K. Holl and Leonora Wilkinson and Annamaria Painold and Etienne M. Holl and Raphael M. Bonelli}, title = {Combating depression in Huntington's disease: effective antidepressive treatment with venlafaxine {XR}}, journal = {International Clinical Psychopharmacology} }

Keywords

administration & dosage, adverse effects, antidepressive agents secondgeneration, chemically induced, complications, cyclohexanols, depressive disorder major, drug effects, drug therapy, female, humans, huntington disease, irritable mood, male, middle aged, nausea, treatment outcome, venlafaxine

Countries of Study

Austria

Types of Dementia

Huntingtons

Types of Study

Before and After Study

Type of Outcomes

Depression and Anxiety, Prevention and/or management of co-morbidities

Type of Interventions

Pharmaceutical Interventions

Pharmaceutical Interventions

Antipsychotics and antidepressants