ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Psichiatrica 2010 June;51(2):73-7

Copyright © 2010 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

A preliminary randomized double-blind clinical trial on efficacy of estrogen after hysterectomy in postmenopausal women with major depression disorder

Sayyah M. ¹, Feizy F. ², Boostani H. ³

¹ Department of Education and Development Center (EDC), Psychiatric and Clinical Psychology Research Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Jondi Shapoor University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran 2 Department of Gynecology, Gynecologist Research Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Jondi Shapoor University of Medical Sciences Ahwaz, Iran 3 Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatrist Golestan Hospital Jondi Shapoor, University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran

Aim. Estrogen has been used for many years to relieve menopausal symptoms and as hormone replacement therapy after menopause. Evidence suggests that estrogen may also have some antidepressant effects in postmenopausal women and that progesterone may be depressogenic. In this study, the efficacy of conjugated estrogen in postmenopausal women with major depression disorder (a score ≥18 on the Hamilton depression rating scale) is investigated.
Methods. Forty-two patients randomly received daily placebo plus 20 mg fluoxetine or 0.625 mg conjugated estrogen plus 20 mg fluoxetine in six weeks. The effect of drug was assessed in weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Results. In week 3, 4 and 6, the drug exhibited significant antidepressive effect compared to placebo.
Conclusion. Conjugated estrogen as adjunct therapy with fluoxetine in major depressive disorder can be effective and may cause rapid response to medicine.