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Pharmacopsychiatry 2013; 46(06): 221-226
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1353171
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

An Open-Label, Rater-Blinded, 8-Week Trial of Bupropion Hydrochloride Extended-Release in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder with Atypical Features

H.-J. Seo
1   Department of Psychiatry, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
,
B. C. Lee
2   Department of Neuropsychiatry, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea
,
J.-H. Seok
3   Department of Psychiatry, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
,
H. J. Jeon
4   Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan ­University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
,
J.-W. Paik
5   Department of Psychiatry, Kyunghee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
,
W. Kim
6   Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Inje University, Seoul, Korea
,
K.-P. Kwak
7   Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju, Korea
,
C. Han
8   Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea
,
K.-U. Lee
1   Department of Psychiatry, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
,
C.-U. Pae
1   Department of Psychiatry, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
9   Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Duram, NC, USA
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 18 May 2013
revised 16 July 2013

accepted 25 July 2013

Publication Date:
20 August 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Objectives:

The present study aimed at investigating the effectiveness and tolerability of ­bupropion hydrochloride extended release (XL) in major depressive disorder (MDD) patients with atypical features (AF).

Methods:

51 patients were prescribed bupropion XL for 8 weeks (6 visits: screening, baseline, weeks 1, 2, 4 and 8). The primary efficacy measure was a change of the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-Seasonal Affective Disorder Version (SIGH-SAD) from baseline to endpoint. Secondary efficacy measures included the SIGH-SAD atypical symptoms subscale, Clinical Global Impression–Severity (CGI-S), Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) and Epworth Sleepiness Questionnaire (ESQ). Response or remission was defined as ≥50% reduction or ≤7 in SIGH-SAD total scores, respectively, at end of treatment.

Results:

The HAM-D-29 total score reduced by 55.3% from baseline (27.3±6.5) to end of treatment (12.2±6.3) (p<0.001). Atypical symptom subscale scores also reduced by 54.5% from baseline (9.2±3.0) to end of treatment (4.2±2.8) (p<0.001). At the end of treatment, 24.4% (n=10) and 51.2% (n=21) subjects were classified as remitters and responders, respectively. The most frequently reported AEs were headache (13.7%), dry mouth (11.8%), dizziness (9.8%), and dyspepsia (9.8%).

Conclusions:

Our preliminary study indicates that bupropion XL may be beneficial in the treatment of MDD with atypical features. Adequately powered, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials are necessary to determine our results.

Key words

bupropion XL - atypical depression - effectiveness - remission - response - tolerability
 

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