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Fluvoxamine treatment in veterans with combat‐related post‐traumatic stress disorder
Author(s) -
Escalona Rodrigo,
Canive Jose M.,
Calais Lawrence A.,
Davidson Jonathan R.T.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
depression and anxiety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.634
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6394
pISSN - 1091-4269
DOI - 10.1002/da.1082
Subject(s) - fluvoxamine , hamilton rating scale for depression , beck depression inventory , depression (economics) , psychology , psychiatry , beck anxiety inventory , anxiety , rating scale , placebo , anxiety disorder , medicine , major depressive disorder , fluoxetine , mood , developmental psychology , receptor , alternative medicine , pathology , serotonin , economics , macroeconomics
This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of the antidepressant fluvoxamine in the treatment of combat‐related post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Fifteen veterans with combat‐related PTSD and no other psychiatric diagnosis except depression were recruited to participate in a 14‐week open‐label study of fluvoxamine. Patients underwent a 30‐day washout period and were rated with the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), Mississippi Scale, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM‐D) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM‐A) at baseline, and every 2 weeks until week 14. Three patients stopped fluvoxamine prematurely due to side effects and 7 withdrew consent before completing the 14‐week trial. Eight patients completed at least 8 weeks of treatment. The total daily dose of fluvoxamine ranged from 100 to 300 mg with a mean daily dose of 150 mg at week 14. Intent‐to‐treat analysis revealed a significant improvement in total CAPS scores, and in the intrusion and the avoidance/numbing subscales. The CAPS hyperarousal scores did not change significantly. HAM‐A score also improved significantly. No significant changes were seen on the Mississippi scale, HAM‐D, or Beck Depression Inventory in the intent‐to‐treat analysis. In summary, our study shows that fluvoxamine appears to improve combat‐related PTSD symptoms but not depressive symptoms. The high attrition rate and lack of a placebo group limits the conclusions of our study. Controlled studies of fluvoxamine in the treatment of PTSD are warranted. Depression and Anxiety 15:29–33, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.