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A placebo-controlled study of sertraline in the treatment of outpatients with seasonal affective disorder

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Abstract

Rationale

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a relatively common cyclical depressive illness characterized by seasonal depressions during winter. The disorder is commonly responsive to light therapy, but antidepressant drug efficacy has not been definitely established. Serotonin selective re-uptake inhibitors are potentially efficacious treatments for SAD.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, tolerability and safety of sertraline treatment for SAD.

Methods

One hundred and eighty seven outpatients with seasonal pattern recurrent winter depression (DSM-III-R defined) and a minimum 29-item Hamilton depression scale (SIGH-SAD version) score of 22 were randomized to 8 weeks treatment with either sertraline or placebo in a double-blind, multi-country, multi-center, parallel-group, flexible dose (50–200 mg once daily) study. Efficacy was investigated using physician and patient-rated scales measuring depression, anxiety and symptoms characteristic of seasonal affective disorder.

Results

Sertraline produced a significantly greater response than placebo at endpoint as measured by changes in the 29-item and 21-item Hamilton depression scales, the clinical global impression (CGI) severity scale, the Hamilton anxiety scale, and the hospital anxiety and depression scale. The proportion of sertraline-treated subjects achieving a response on the CGI improvement rating (ratings of 1 or 2) at endpoint (last observation carried forward) was significantly greater than that of the placebo group. Overall sertraline was well tolerated with the most frequent placebo adjusted adverse events, being nausea, diarrhea, insomnia and dry mouth. Adverse events were mostly mild to moderate and transient.

Conclusions

Sertraline pharmacotherapy has been demonstrated to be an effective and well-tolerated therapy for out patients with SAD. As such, sertraline offers an important pharmacological option in the clinical management of this condition.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from Pfizer International Inc. Scott Patten, MD, PhD, for his review of the manuscript. Dr Lane was formerly an employee of Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Canadian Sleep Institute, Unit 300, 295 Midpark Way, South East, Calgary, Alberta, T2X 2A8, Canada

    Adam Moscovitch

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Grey Nuns Hospital, 3015-62 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, T6C 5S8, Canada

    Carl A. Blashko

  3. Mental Health Services Unit, Ross Clinic, Royal Cornhill Hospital, Cornhill Road, Aberdeen, AB9 2ZH, UK

    John M. Eagles

  4. Pasteur Hospital, 19 Rue Rossini, 06000, Nice, France

    Guy Darcourt

  5. Department of Psychiatry , University of Southampton, Royal South Hants Hospital, Graham Street, Southampton, SO9 4PE, UK

    Christopher Thompson

  6. Department of General Psychiatry, University of Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Siegfried Kasper

  7. Neuroscience Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey, USA

    Roger M. Lane

Authors
  1. Adam Moscovitch
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  2. Carl A. Blashko
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  3. John M. Eagles
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  4. Guy Darcourt
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  5. Christopher Thompson
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  6. Siegfried Kasper
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  7. Roger M. Lane
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Adam Moscovitch.

Additional information

The authors wrote this article on behalf of the International Collaborative Group on Sertraline in the Treatment of Outpatients with Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Preliminary results from this study were presented previously at the 148th meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, Miami, Florida, 24 May 1995

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Moscovitch, A., Blashko, C.A., Eagles, J.M. et al. A placebo-controlled study of sertraline in the treatment of outpatients with seasonal affective disorder. Psychopharmacology 171, 390–397 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-003-1594-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-003-1594-8

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