Efficacy of fluvoxamine in treatment-refractory depression

The efficacy of the potent and selective unicyclic serotonin reuptake inhibitor, fluvoxamine, was evaluated in 38 consecutively admitted depressed patients judged refractory to standard antidepressants using operationalized criteria. Twenty-eight patients completed a single-blind protocol involving greater than or equal to 2 weeks of placebo and 4-6 weeks of active fluvoxamine. Eight (29%) were judged responders to fluvoxamine alone, eight (29%) responded to lithium augmentation of fluvoxamine and two (7%) responded to fluvoxamine, lithium and perphenazine. These data suggest that selective and potent serotonin reuptake inhibitors may be effective in patients refractory to generally available antidepressant medications.