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Pharmacological Treatment of Depression in Cancer Patients

A Placebo-Controlled Study of Mianserin

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Kees Van Heeringen  and
Milana Zivkov
Kees Van Heeringen*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Gent, Belgium
Milana Zivkov
Affiliation:
Medical Services Department, NV Organon, Oss, The Netherlands
*
Professor C. van Heeringen, Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Gent, De Pintelaan 185, B-9000 Gent, Belgium
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Abstract

Background

Depression has a reported mean prevalence of 24% in patients diagnosed with cancer. However, little systematic research on the efficacy of antidepressants in patients with cancer has been performed.

Method

The efficacy and safety of mianserin were studied in 55 depressed women with breast cancer (stage I or II and without known metastases), in a randomised, double-blind, six-week, placebo-controlled study.

Results

Statistically significant differences in the decrease in score from baseline on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the number of responders, favouring mianserin, were present after 28 and 42 days of treatment Significantly more placebo-treated patients prematurely terminated the study due to lack of efficacy while the safety profile of mianserin was similar to that of placebo.

Conclusions

Treatment with mianserin resulted in a significant improvement in depressive symptoms in cancer patients, and was well tolerated.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 169 , Issue 4 , October 1996 , pp. 440 - 443
Copyright
Copyright © 1996 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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