Long-term treatment of double depression: a preliminary study with serotonergic antidepressants

1. There is increasing evidence that many patients with major depression also have coexisting dysthymia, and that antidepressant treatment may alleviate both conditions. 2. Open-label study of fluoxetine and trazodone for 18 patients meeting DSM-III-R criteria for concurrent dysthymia and major depression. 3. Fourteen patients completed three-month medication trials, and seven (50%) of completers) responded to treatment. At five months, eight (57.1%) were in remission. Fluoxetine was significantly better tolerated than trazodone, with respective dropout rates of 7.7% and 80%. 4. Findings are consistent with efficacy of serotonergic agents in this condition.