Open pergolide treatment of tricyclic and
heterocyclic antidepressant-resistant depression
by
Izumi T, Inoue T, Kitagawa N, Nishi N, Shimanaka S, Takahashi Y,
Kusumi I, Odagaki Y, Denda K, Ohmori T, Koyama T
Department of Psychiatry,
Hokkaido University School of Medicine,
North 15, West 7, Kita-ku,
060-8638, Sapporo, Japan
J Affect Disord 2000 Dec 1; 61(1-2):127-132

ABSTRACT

Background: Recently, a dopamine hypothesis of depression was put forward, and several studies have demonstrated that direct and indirect dopamine agonists have antidepressant effects. Methods: Using Clinical Global Impressions, we evaluated the efficacy of 4-week treatment of pergolide as an antidepressant adjuvant involving 20 unipolar depressed patients who were refractory to standard treatment with antidepressants. Results: One patients (5%) were very much improved, seven (35%) much improved, four (20%) minimally improved, six (30%) no change or worse, and two (10%) not assessed. There was no significant difference in any clinical factors between the pergolide responder and non-responder group. Limitations: This study was a non-blind open trial, and pergolide was added to tricyclic and heterocyclic antidepressants. Conclusion: Pergolide may be useful as an antidepressant adjuvant, suggesting a potential role for dopamine-2 stimulation in the antidepressant response.

Cocaine
Pergolide
Selegiline
Roxindole
Dopamine
Ropinirole
Amineptine
Pramipexole
Nomifensine
Bromocriptine
Thyroid hormones
Parkinson's disease
Methylphenidate SR
Dopamine and depression