The use of neuroprotectors in the treatment of late depression

Safarova T.P.; Gavrilova S.I.

doi:https://doi.org/10.17116/jnevro202012010246

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OBJECTIVE

Comparative evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of antidepressant monotherapy and combined antidepressant therapy with the inclusion of neuroprotectors in the treatment of depression in old and very old patients in a psychiatric hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 2 groups of patients from the cohort of patients hospitalized in the gerontopsychiatric unit with mild and moderate depression (according to the ICD-10 classification) aged 60 years and older. The groups are comparable in their main demographic and clinical characteristics. Both groups received antidepressant monotherapy with venlafaxine (21 people) or combined therapy with the same antidepressant, but in combination with cerebrolysin or carnicetine (40 people) for 8 weeks. The efficacy of antidepressant therapy was evaluated with HAMD-17 and HARS; the effect of treatment on the level of cognitive activity of patients with MMSE and the 10-word memory test.

RESULTS

In the group of patients receiving combined antidepressant therapy, a significantly faster and more pronounced therapeutic response was observed compared to the group of patients treated with antidepressant monotherapy. In the group of combined therapy, an earlier (by 4 weeks) and significant (p<0.001) reduction of depressive and anxiety symptoms was established by the end of treatment, this group had a significantly higher number of respondents, as well as a better quality of therapeutic remission and a significant improvement in the cognitive functioning of patients compared to the monotherapy group. When comparing the effectiveness of different neuroprotectors (cerebrolysin or carnicetine), significant differences in the reduction of depressive and anxiety disorders in favor of carnicetine were established only at the end of the therapeutic course.

CONCLUSION

Combined antidepressant therapy with a combination of treatment with an antidepressant and a drug with neuroprotective properties can increase the effectiveness of antidepressant therapy in old and very old patients. Both cerebrolysin and carnicetine can be recommended for use in a psychiatric hospital to improve the quality of the therapeutic response and reduce the time of hospitalization.

Keywords:

depression

antidepressive therapy

older age

neuroprotectors

cerebrolysin

carnicetine

Authors:

Safarova T.P.

Mental Health Research Centre

ORCID: 0000-0002-3509-1622

Gavrilova S.I.

Mental Health Research Centre

SPIN RSCI: 6094-4303
Scopus AuthorID: 7004829216
ResearcherID: B-4548-2016
ORCID: 0000-0001-6683-0240

Received:

28.08.2020

Accepted:

03.09.2020

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References:

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