Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

  Comparison of Desipramine and Sertraline in the Treatment of Depression in Patients Suffering from Alzheimer Disease

  N. Mokhber [1] , M.R. Azarpazhooh [2] , A. Talaei [3]

  Received: 22/09/07 Sent for Revision: 24/05/08 Received Revised Manuscript: 5/12/09 Accepted: 25/08/10

  Background and Objectives: As depression is a common comorbid disorder with Alzheimer disease, it is important to recognize treatments with more effective and less adverse effects. This study has been devised to comparatively evaluate the effects of desipramine and sertraline in this patients.

  Materials and Methods: In this single blind clinical trial study, during January 2005 to April 2008, 63 outpatients in Ibn-e-Sina and Ghaem University hospitals in Mashhad city (north eastern part of Iran) were randomly allocated to two groups: 29 cases were treated by desipramine and 34 patients were treated with sertraline (both 25mg/day and if needed up to 150 mg/day). Patients were assessed at 2, 4, 8 and 12^th week by PDRS, HRDS and MMSE and side effects of medications.

  Results: Changes in mood with HRDS and CSDD have shown that sertraline was effective in all weeks (p<0.05). In contrast, desipramine had no therapeutic effect except in the 12th week according to HRDS scale (p<0.05). Differences between the groups were significant (p=0.02). Differences between daily activating scales regarding PDRS in 8th and 12th week in desipramine group were statistically meaningful (p<0.05), but not in the sertraline group and between the two groups. Also, cognitive changes by MMSE were not significant in the two groups and between the two groups.

  Conclusion: Sertraline is more effective than desipramine in the treatment of depression in patients who suffer from alzheimer disease, but they are ineffective on cognitive problems.

  Key words: Alzheimer, Dementia, Depression, Sertraline, Desipramine

  Funding : This research was funded by Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences.

  Conflict of interest : None Declared.

  Ethical approval : The Ethics Committee of Mashhad University of Medical Sciences approved the study.

  [1] - Associate Prof., Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

  [2] - Associate Prof., Dept. of Neurology , University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

  [3] - Assistant Prof., Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

 Corresponding autor, Tel: (0511) 7112722, Fax: (0511) 7112723, E-mail: talaeia@mums.ac.ir