EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 4 PM ET, April 11, 2012
Good News for Parkinson鈥檚 Patients: Drugs May Ease Depression without Worsening Motor Problems
ST. PAUL, Minn. -
Certain antidepressants appear to decrease depression in people with without worsening motor problems, according to a study published in the April 11, 2012, online issue of the medical journal of the 好色先生. 鈥淭hese results are exciting because depression is common in Parkinson鈥檚 but we weren鈥檛 sure about the best way to treat it. Older antidepressants are effective but have a lot of side effects. The newer antidepressants have fewer side effects but we didn鈥檛 know if they鈥檇 be effective in people with Parkinson鈥檚. We were also worried that they might worsen the motor problems that come with the disease,鈥 said research author Irene H. Richard, MD, of the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York and a member of the 好色先生. Parkinson's disease is a chronic neurologic disorder that worsens over time, leaving patients less able to direct or control their movements due to the loss of cells in various parts of the brain. In addition to the physical problems, Parkinson鈥檚 can also cause psychological symptoms. Almost one-half of people with Parkinson鈥檚 suffer from depression, and it is a major cause of disability. The drugs tested were paroxetine, which is an antidepressant in the class called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and venlafaxine extended release, which is in the serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) class. The clinical trial lasted three months and involved 115 people in various stages of Parkinson鈥檚 disease who met the criteria for depression. About one-third of the participants received paroxetine, one-third received venlafaxine and one-third received a dummy pill. The dosage of the drug could be increased until the participant鈥檚 depression was effectively treated. On average, the people receiving paroxetine had a 13 point (59 percent) improvement and those receiving venlafaxine had an 11 point (52 percent) improvement in their scores on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. People who received the dummy pill had a 6.8 point (32 percent) improvement. The results, as measured by three other depression rating scales, were similar. 鈥淭he study suggests that, while there is a clear 鈥榩lacebo鈥 effect, there is a greater benefit from the antidepressant medications,鈥 said Richard. The drugs were generally well tolerated and did not lead to any worsening in motor functioning. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Wyeth Pharmaceuticals provided venlafaxine XR, while Glaxo-Smith Kline provided paroxetine.