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Low‐ and high‐dose aripiprazole augmentation and plasma levels of homovanillic acid in major depressive disorder: A randomized, open‐label study
Author(s) -
Horikoshi Sho,
Miura Itaru,
Ichinose Mizue,
Yamamoto Shinnosuke,
Ito Masashi,
Watanabe Kenya,
KannoNozaki Keiko,
Kaneko Haruka,
Yabe Hirooki
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
human psychopharmacology: clinical and experimental
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.461
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1099-1077
pISSN - 0885-6222
DOI - 10.1002/hup.2696
Subject(s) - aripiprazole , major depressive disorder , randomized controlled trial , clinical endpoint , psychology , medicine , depression (economics) , psychiatry , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , economics , macroeconomics , amygdala
Objective This randomized controlled study evaluated the efficacy of low‐dose (LD) and high‐dose (HD) aripiprazole augmentation in major depressive disorder. Additionally, we examined the relationship between clinical response and changes in plasma homovanillic acid (pHVA) levels during aripiprazole augmentation. Methods Thirty‐one patients with inadequate response to antidepressants were randomized to receive adjunctive treatment with LD (3 mg/day, n = 17) or HD (up to 12 mg/day, n = 14) aripiprazole for 6 weeks. We evaluated the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and measured pHVA at baseline, Week 2, and end point. Results Both LD and HD aripiprazole significantly decreased MADRS score after 6 weeks, and the response rate was higher in HD aripiprazole group at end point. HD aripiprazole significantly decreased MADRS score at Week 2 compared with LD aripiprazole ( p = .015). There was a significant difference in changes in pHVA between responders and nonresponders, showing pHVA decreased significantly in responders at Week 2 ( p = .044). Conclusions Increasing aripiprazole from the early period appeared useful for immediate response, although caution is needed when increasing the dose >6 mg/day. pHVA may be a possible indicator of the response to aripiprazole augmentation. Caution is needed in interpreting these findings because of the small sample size.