Augmentation of fluoxetine with lovastatin for treating major depressive
disorder, a randomized double-blind placebo controlled-clinical trial.
Author(s): Ghanizadeh A(1), Hedayati A.
Affiliation(s): Author information:
(1)Department of Psychiatry, Research Center for Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,
Hafez Hospital, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences,
Shiraz, Iran.
Publication date & source: 2013, Depress Anxiety. , 30(11):1084-8
BACKGROUNDS: There are contradictory evidence about the effect of statins on
depression. This 6-week-randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial assessed the
efficacy and safety of lovastatin as an adjuvant agent for treating major
depressive disorder (MDD).
METHODS: The participants were 68 patients with MDD according to DSM-IV
diagnostic criteria. The sample was randomly allocated into fluoxetine (up to 40
mg/day) plus lovastatin (30 mg/day) group or fluoxetine plus placebo group.
Hamilton Depression Rating scale was used to measure depression score at
baseline, week 2, and week 6.
RESULTS: Both groups showed a significant decrease of depression score on the
Hamilton Depression scale. However, the treatment group decreased depression
score more than placebo group [12.8(6.3) vs. 8.2(4.0), t = 3.4, df = 60, P <
.001]. Any serious adverse effect was not found.
DISCUSSION: These results suggest that lovastatin as an adjuvant treatment may be
effective for treating patients with MDD.
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