[Treatment of depression in patients with myocardial infarction with tianeptine]

To study efficacy and acceptability of tianeptine in treatment of depression in patients with myocardial infarction (MI).

A group of 416 patients (253 men and 163 women) from 35 till 89 years old with MI was studied. Depression was diagnosed in 113 of them (27.2 %) by the use of Zung depression scale and CD-10 criteria. Tianeptine treatment was given to 55 patients (25-37.5 mg/day for 3.3 months), 58 patients were in control group.

Tianeptine treatment of depression in patients with MI in 3-7 days led to decrease of feeling of depression and lowering of anxiety. Depression decreased in 9.4% patients of this group in 2 months. After 2 months depression was diagnosed in 55.7 % of patients who did not receive the antidepressant. During 1 year patients, who were treated by tianeptine, had 31% lower number of hospitalizations due to exacerbations of cardiovascular diseases. Patients had a good tolerance of tianeptine treatment independently of age.

Tianeptine treatment of depression in patients with MI is effective, safe, well tolerated by patients and allows to decrease number of hospitalizations because of complications of cardiovascular diseases during 1 year.