Mirtazapine in comorbid major depression and alcohol dependence: An open-label trial

TY - JOUR

T1 - Mirtazapine in comorbid major depression and alcohol dependence

T2 - An open-label trial

AU - Cornelius, Jack R.

AU - Douaihy, Antoine B.

AU - Clark, Duncan B.

AU - Chung, Tammy

AU - Scott Wood, D.

AU - Daley, Dennis

N1 - Funding Information: This research was supported in part by grants from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (R01 AA013370, R01 AA015173, K24 AA15320, K02 AA018195, and K02 AA00291) and from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01 DA019142, P50 DA05605, K02 DA017822, and the NIDA Clinical Trials Network). The authors thank Jeanine Hayes and Maribeth Wesesky for their assistance in data collection and in the preparation of this report. The authors also thank Levent Kirisci, PhD, for his consultation on data analyses.

PY - 2012/7/1

Y1 - 2012/7/1

N2 - Objective: This was a first pilot study evaluating the acute phase (8-week) efficacy of the antidepressant medication mirtazapine for the treatment of depressive symptoms and drinking of subjects with comorbid major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence (MDD/AD). We hypothesized that mirtazapine would demonstrate within-group efficacy for the treatment of both depressive symptoms and drinking in these subjects. Methods: We conducted a first open-label study of the second-generation antidepressant mirtazapine in 12 adult outpatient subjects with comorbid MDD/AD. The pharmacological profile of that medication is unique among antidepressants, unrelated to tricyclics or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Results: Mirtazapine was well tolerated in this treatment population. Self-reported depressive symptoms decreased from 31.8 to 8.3 on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), a 74.0% decrease (p <.001), and drinking decreased from 33.9 to 13.3 drinks per week, a 60.8% decrease (p <.05). None of the subjects were employed full time at baseline, but 9 of the 12 (75%) were employed full time at the end the of study. Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest efficacy for mirtazapine for treating both the depressive symptoms and excessive alcohol use of comorbid major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence. Double-blind studies are warranted to further clarify the efficacy of mirtazapine in this population.

AB - Objective: This was a first pilot study evaluating the acute phase (8-week) efficacy of the antidepressant medication mirtazapine for the treatment of depressive symptoms and drinking of subjects with comorbid major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence (MDD/AD). We hypothesized that mirtazapine would demonstrate within-group efficacy for the treatment of both depressive symptoms and drinking in these subjects. Methods: We conducted a first open-label study of the second-generation antidepressant mirtazapine in 12 adult outpatient subjects with comorbid MDD/AD. The pharmacological profile of that medication is unique among antidepressants, unrelated to tricyclics or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Results: Mirtazapine was well tolerated in this treatment population. Self-reported depressive symptoms decreased from 31.8 to 8.3 on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), a 74.0% decrease (p <.001), and drinking decreased from 33.9 to 13.3 drinks per week, a 60.8% decrease (p <.05). None of the subjects were employed full time at baseline, but 9 of the 12 (75%) were employed full time at the end the of study. Conclusions: These preliminary findings suggest efficacy for mirtazapine for treating both the depressive symptoms and excessive alcohol use of comorbid major depressive disorder and alcohol dependence. Double-blind studies are warranted to further clarify the efficacy of mirtazapine in this population.

KW - alcohol dependence

KW - comorbid

KW - major depression

KW - mirtazapine

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U2 - https://doi.org/10.1080/15504263.2012.696527

DO - https://doi.org/10.1080/15504263.2012.696527

M3 - Article

SN - 1550-4263

VL - 8

SP - 200

EP - 204

JO - Journal of Dual Diagnosis

JF - Journal of Dual Diagnosis

IS - 3

ER -