Treating Depression in Alzheimer's
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- One in four patients with Alzheimer's disease suffers from depression. Previous studies have had contradictory findings on whether treatment with antidepressants helps these patients. New research shows treatment with one antidepressant improves depression and behavior problems in Alzheimer's patients, but not their cognitive ability.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore conducted the current study. They studied the efficacy and safety of sertraline hydrochloride for the treatment of depression in Alzheimer's patients. They also evaluated the effect the drug had on daily living activities, cognition and behavioral disturbances.
The study included 44 patients with Alzheimer's disease and depression. Participants were randomly assigned to receive the antidepressant or placebo. In the group treated with sertraline, 38 percent had full recovery from their depression. Forty-six percent of the patients reported an improvement in their depression. In the patients on placebo, 20 percent reported a full recovery and 15 percent saw some improvement. The study also shows patients on the drug had fewer behavior disturbances and showed improvement in their activities of daily living. However, researchers say the drug had no effect on the cognitive ability of the patients.
Researchers conclude sertraline is superior to placebo for the treatment of depression in Alzheimer's patients. Not only did the depression improve in a greater number of patients, but there were also other positive effects that could prove to be beneficial to the caregiver as well.
SOURCE: Archives of General Psychiatry, 2003;60:737-746
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