Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T23:16:07.479Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Antidepressant Treatment of Psychotic Major Depression: Potential Role of the σ Receptor

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2014

Abstract

Psychotic major depression is a severe condition that frequently proves difficult-to-treat. The most effective traditional treatments (electroconvulsive therapy and combinations of antipsychotics with tricyclic antidepressants) are associated with significant side effects, and the use of tricyclic antidepressants alone is largely ineffective. Recent evidence has indicated that the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, either alone or in combination with antipsychotics, may provide a desirable alternative to traditional treatments. Among selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, fluvoxamine has been the best studied and, somewhat surprisingly, has proven effective in several studies as a monotherapy without the need to combine with an antipsychotic. It is proposed that the apparent efficacy of fluvoxamine in psychotic major depression may be related to its unique property of high affinity for the σ1receptor, which is thought to play a role in psychosis and in the action of some antipsychotic drugs.

Type
Review Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

1.Coryell, W, Pfohl, B, Zimmerman, M. The clinical and neuroendocrine features of psychotic depression. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1984;172:521528.Google Scholar
2.Basso, MR, Bornstein, RA. Neuropsychological deficits in psychotic versus nonpsychotic unipolar depression. Neuropsychology. 1999;13:6975.Google Scholar
3.Thakur, M, Hays, J, Ranga, K, Krishnan, R. Clinical, demographic and social characteristics of psychotic depression. Psychiatry Res. 1999;86:99106.Google Scholar
4.Hori, M, Shiraishi, H, Koizumi, J. Delusional depression and suicide. Jpn J Psychiatry Neurol. 1993;47:811817.Google Scholar
5.Schatzberg, AF, Rothschild, AJ. Psychotic (delusional) major depression: should it he included as a distinct syndrome in DSM-IV? Am J Psychiatry. 1992;149:733745.Google Scholar
6.Vythilingam, M, Chen, J, Bremner, JD, Mazure, CM, Maciejewski, PK, Nelson, JC. Psychotic depression and mortality. Am J Psychiatry. 2003;160:574576.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.Perry, PJ, Morgan, DE, Smith, RE, et al.Treatment of unipolar depression accompanied by delusions: ECT versus tricyclic antidepressant-antipsychotic combinations. J Affect Disord. 1982;4:195200.Google Scholar
8.Parker, G, Roy, K, Hadzi-Pavlovic, D, et al.Psychotic (delusional) depression: a metaanalysis of physical treatments. J Affect Disord. 1992;24:1724.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Muller-Siecheneder, F, Muller, MJ, Hillert, A, et al.Risperidone versus haloperidol and amitriptyline in the treatment of patients with a combined psychotic and depressive syndrome. J Clin Psychopharmacol 1998;18:111120.Google Scholar
10.DeBattista, C, Solvason, HB, Belanoff, J, et al.Treatment of psychotic depression. Am J Psychiatry. 1997;154:16251626.Google Scholar
11.Kroessler, D. Relative efficacy rates for therapies of delusional depression. Convuls Ther. 1985;1:173182.Google Scholar
12.Coryell, W. The treatment of psychotic depression. J Clin Psychiatry. 1998;59(suppl 1):2229.Google Scholar
13.Khan, A, Noonan, C, Healey, W. Is a single tricyclic antidepressant trial and active treatment for psychotic depression? Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 1991;15:765770.Google Scholar
14.O'Neal, BL, Smith, CL, Trivedi, M. Evaluation of newer treatment interventions for psychotic depression. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2000;2:305309.Google Scholar
15.Schatzberg, AF. New approaches to managing psychotic depression. J Clin Psychiatry. 2003;64(suppl 1):1923.Google Scholar
16.Dubé, S, Rothschild, AJ, Andersen, SW, Sanger, TM, Hostetler, J, Tohen, MF, Tollefson, GD. Olanzapine-fluoxetine combination for psychotic major depression. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol. 2002:12(suppl 3):S180.Google Scholar
17.Matthews, JD, Bottonari, KA, Polania, LM, et al.An open study of olanzapine and fluoxetine for psychotic major depressive disorder: an interim analysis. J Clin Psychiatry. 2002;63:11641170.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18.Belanoff, JK, Rothschild, AJ, Cassidy, F, et al.An open label trial of C-1073 (mifepristone) for psychotic major depression. Biol Psychiatry. 2001;52:386392.Google Scholar
19.Belanoff, JK, Flores, BH, Kalezhan, M, et al.Rapid reversal of psychotic depression using mifepristone. J Clin psychopharmacol. 2001;21:516521.Google Scholar
20.Schatzberg, AF, Posener, JA, DeBattista, C, et al.Neuropsychological deficits in psychotic versus nonpsychotic major depression and no mental illness. Am J Psychiatry. 2000;157:10951100.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
21.Horden, A, Holt, NF, Burt, CG. Amitriptyline in depressive states. Br J Psychiatry. 1963;109:815825.Google Scholar
22.Kantor, SJ, Glassman, AH. Delusional depression: natural history and response to treatment. Br J Psychiatry. 1977;133:351360.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
23.Nelson, JC, Bowers, MB. Delusional unipolar depression: description and drug response. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1978;35:13211328.Google Scholar
24.Spiker, DG, Weiss, JC, Dealy, RS, et al.The pharmacological treatment of delusional depression. Am J Psychiatry. 1985;142:430436.Google Scholar
25.Kroessler, D. Relative efficacy rates for therapies of delusional depression. Convuls Ther. 1985;1:173182.Google Scholar
26.Minter, RE, Mandel, MR. The treatment of psychotic major depressive disorder with drugs and electroconvulsive therapy. J Nerv Ment Dis. 1979;167:726733.Google Scholar
27.Konig, F, von Hippel, C, Petersdorff, T, Neuhoffer-Weiss, M, Wolfersdorf, M, Kaschka, WP. First experiences in combination therapy using olanzapine with SSRIs (citalopram, paroxetine) in delusional depression. Neuropsychobiology. 2001;43:170174.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
28.Rothschild, AJ, Samson, JA, Bessette, MP, Carter-Campbell, JT. Efficacy of the combination of fluoxetine and perphenazine in the treatment of psychotic depression. J Clin Psychiatry. 1993;54:338342.Google Scholar
29.Lammers, CH, Deuschle, M, Weigmann, H, et al.Coadministration of clozapine and fluvoxamine in psychotic patients–clinical experience. Pharmacopsychiatry. 1999;32:7677.Google Scholar
30.Hiemke, C, Peled, A, Jabarin, M, et al.Fluvoxamine augmentation of olanzapine in chronic schizophrenia: pharmacokinetic interactions and clinical effects. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2002;22:502506.Google Scholar
31.Silver, H. Fluvoxamine as an adjunctive agent in schizophrenia. CNS Drug Rev. 2001;7:283304.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
32.Silver, H. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor augmentation in the treatment of negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 2003;18:305313.Google Scholar
33.Zanardi, R, Franchini, L, Gasperini, M, Perez, J, Smeraldi, E. Double-blind controlled trial of sertraline versus paroxetine in the treatment of delusional depression. Am J Psychiatry. 1996;153:16311633.Google Scholar
34.Gatti, F, Bellini, L, Gasperini, M, Perez, J, Zanardi, R, Smeraldi, E. Fluvoxamine alone in the treatment of delusional depression. Am J Psychiatry. 1996;153:414416.Google Scholar
35.Zanardi, R, Franchini, L, Gasperini, M, Lucca, A, Smeraldi, E, Perez, J. Faster onset of action of fluvoxamine in combination with pindolol in the treatment of delusional depression: a controlled study. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1998;18:441446.Google Scholar
36.Simpson, GM, El Sheshai, A, Rady, A, Kingsbury, SJ, Fayek, M. Sertraline as monotherapy in the treatment of psychotic and nonpsychotic depression. J Clin Psychiatry. 2003;64:959965.Google Scholar
37.Zanardi, R, Franchini, L, Serretti, A, Perez, J, Smeraldi, E. Venlafaxine versus fluvoxamine in the treatment of delusional depression: a pilot double-blind controlled study. J Clin Psychiatry. 2000;61:2629.Google Scholar
38.Zanardi, R, Franchini, L, Gasperini, M, Smeraldi, E, Perez, J. Long-term treatment of psychotic (delusional) depression with fluvoxamine: an open pilot study. Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 1997;12:195197.Google Scholar
39.Spiker, DG, Kupfer, DJ. Placebo response rates in psychotic and nonpsychotic depression. J Affect Disord. 1988;14:2123.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
40.Glassman, AH, Roose, SP. Delusional depression: a distinct clinical entity? Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1981;38:424427.Google Scholar
41.Smeraldi, E, Cavallaro, R, Di Rosa, M, Della Maggiore, P, Brancato, V. Prevalence and risk factors of involuntary movement disorders in a neuroleptic-treated population: a comparison between schizophrenic spectrum and non-schizophrenic spectrum patients. Schizophr Res. 1991;4:367368.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
42.Debonnel, G, de Montigny, C. Modulation of NMDA and dopaminergic neurotransmissions by sigma ligands: possible implications for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Life Sci. 1996;58:721734.Google Scholar
43.Takebayashi, M, Hayashi, T, Su, TP. Nerve growth factor-induced neurite sprouting in PC12 cells involves sigmal-receptors: implications for antidepressants. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2002;303:12271237.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
44.Guitart, X, Codony, X, Monroy, X. Sigma receptors: biology and therapeutic potential. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2004;174:301319.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
45.Waterhouse, RN, Mardon, K, Giles, KM, Collier, TL, O'Brien, JC. Halogenated 4-(phenoxymethyl)piperidines as potential radiolabeled probes for sigma-1 receptors: in vivo evaluation of [1231]-1-(iodopropen-2-yl)-4-[(4-cyanophenoxy)methyl]piperidine. J Med Chem. 1997;40:16571667.Google Scholar
46.John, CS, Lim, BB, Geyer, BC, Vilner, BJ, Bowen, WD. 99mTc-labeled sigma-receptor-binding complex: synthesis, characterization, and specific binding to human ductal breast carcinoma (T47D) cells. Bioconjug Chem. 1997;8:304309.Google Scholar
47.Bergeron, R, Debonnel, G. Effects of low and high doses of selective sigma ligands: further evidence suggesting the existence of different subtypes of sigma receptors. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 1997;129:215224.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
48.Maurice, T, Urani, A, Phan, VL, Romieu, P. The interaction between neuroactive steroids and the sigmal receptor function: behavioral consquences and therapeutic opportunities. Brain Res Rev. 2001;37:116132.Google Scholar
49.Maurice, T, Lockhart, BP. Neuroprotective and anti-amnesic potentials of sigma receptor ligands. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry. 1997;21:69102.Google Scholar
50.Ucar, H, Cacciaguerra, S, Spampinato, S, et al.2(3H)-benzoxazolone and 2(3H)-benzothiazolone derivatives: novel, potent and selective sigmal receptor ligands. Eur J Pharmacol. 1997;335:267273.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
51.Senda, T, Matsuno, K, Okamoto, K, Kobayashi, T, Nakata, K, Mita, S. Ameliorating effect of SA4503, a novel sigmal receptor agonist, on memory impairments induced by cholinergic dysfunction in rats. Eur J Pharmacol. 1996;315:110.Google Scholar
52.Wang, HH, Chien, JW, Chou, YC, Liao, JF, Chen, CF. Anti-amnesic effect of dimemorfan in mice. Br J Pharmacol. 2003;138:941949.Google Scholar
53.Phan, VL, Urani, A, Romieu, P, Maurice, T. Strain differences in sigmal receptor-mediated behaviours are related to neurosteroid levels. Eur J Neurosci. 2002;15:15231534.Google Scholar
54.Urani, A, Romieu, P, Portales-Casamar, E, Roman, FJ, Maurice, T. The antidepressant-like effect induced by the sigmal receptor agonist igmesine involves modulation of intracellular calcium mobilization. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2002;163:2635.Google Scholar
55.Kamei, H, Kameyama, T, Nabeshima, T. Effects of sigma receptor ligands on conditioned fear stress. Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol. 1998;20:613618.Google Scholar
56.Schumacher, M, Akwa, Y, Guennoun, R, et al.Steroid synthesis and metabolism in the nervous system: trophic and protective effects. J Neurocytol. 2000;29:307326.Google Scholar
57.Urani, A, Romieu, P, Roman, FJ, Maurice, T. Enhanced antidepressant effect of sigmal receptor agonists in beta(25-35)-amyloid peptide-treated mice. Behav Brain Res. 2002;21:239247.Google Scholar
58.Reddy, DS, Kaur, G, Kulkarni, SK. Sigma (sigmal) receptor-mediated antidepressant-like effects of neurosteroids in the Porsolt forced swim test. Neuroreport. 1998;9:30693073.Google Scholar
59.Maurice, T, Phan, VL, Urani, A, Kamei, H, Noda, Y, Nabeshima, T. Neuroactive neurosteroids as endogenous effectors for the sigmal receptor: pharmacological evidence and therapeutic opportunities. Jpn J Pharmacol. 1999;81:125155.Google Scholar
60.Akunne, HC, Whetzel, SZ, Wiley, JN, et al.The pharmacology of the novel and selective sigma ligand, PD 144418. Neuropharmacology. 1997;36:5162.Google Scholar
61.Guitart, X, Mendez, R, Ovalle, S, et al.Regulation of ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits in different rat brain areas by a preferential sigmal receptor ligand and potential atypical antipsychotic. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2000;23:539546.Google Scholar
62.Tam, SW, Cook, L. Sigma opiates and certain antipsychotic drugs mutually inhibit (+)- [3H] SKF 10,047 and [3H]haloperidol binding in guinea pig brain membranes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1984;81:56185621.Google Scholar
63.McCann, DJ, Su, TP. Haloperidol competitively inhibits the binding of (+)-[3H]SKF-10,047 to sigma sites. Eur J Pharmacol. 1990;180:361364.Google Scholar
64.Stahl, SM, Shayegan, DK. New discoveries in the development of antipsychotics with novel mechanisms of action: beyond the atypical antipsychotics with serotonin dopamine antagonism. In: Ellenbroek, BA, Cools, RA, eds. Atypical Antipsychotics. Boston, Mass: Birkhauser; 2000:215232.Google Scholar
65.Stahl, SM, Shayegan, DK. Novel mechanisms of action: beyond atypical antipsychotics. In: den Boer, JA, ter Horst, GJ, George, M, eds. Current and Future Developments in Psychopharmacology. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Benecke; In press.Google Scholar
66.Pharmaceutical Companies Analysis. Chichester, England: Epsicom Business Intelligence: 2003.Google Scholar
67.Gewirtz, GR, Gorman, JM, Volavka, J, et al.BMY 14802, a sigma receptor ligand for the treatment of schizophrenia. Neuropsychophormacology. 1994;10:3740.Google Scholar
68.Narita, N, Hashimoto, K, Tomitaka, S, Minabe, Y. Interactions of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors with subtypes of sigma receptors in rat brain. Eur J Pharmacol. 1996;307:117119.Google Scholar