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5‐HT 2 receptor antagonism in dysthymic disorder: a double‐blind placebo‐controlled study with ritanserin
Author(s) -
Bersani G.,
Pozzi F.,
Marini S.,
Grispini A.,
Pasini A.,
Ciani N.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1991.tb05533.x
Subject(s) - ritanserin , dysthymic disorder , placebo , psychology , state trait anxiety inventory , anxiety , hamilton rating scale for depression , rating scale , medicine , psychiatry , 5 ht receptor , major depressive disorder , serotonin , developmental psychology , receptor , mood , alternative medicine , pathology
Thirty patients suffering from dysthymic disorder participated in a 6‐week double‐blind trial comparing ritanserin 10 mg and placebo. After a single blind placebo wash‐out period of one week, the test medication was administered during 5 weeks on a double‐blind basis. Twenty‐three patients completed the study. At the end of the trial, ritanserin was significantly superior to placebo in its effect as manifested on the 19‐item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory X‐1 and X‐2. At the end of the study, the therapeutic effect was rated marked or moderate in 75% of the ritanserin‐treated patients, but only in 18% of the controls. These data are consistent with the hypothesis of serotonin abnormalities in dysthymic disorder and suggest a therapeutic role of 5‐HT 2 antagonists. Ritanserin treatment was very well tolerated; no serious adverse experiences were reported.