FDA-Approved Pharmacotherapies vs Placebo for Major Depressive Disorder

In a recent secondary analysis of a randomized, placebo-controlled study, varenicline plus counseling showed the best results compared to either NRT or bupropion in patients with current or past Major Depressive Disorder. Neither NRT nor bupropion outperformed placebo in this analysis. Also, confirming the findings of the EAGLES study, varenicline was not responsible for any additional adverse events in this population. BHWP’s director, Dr. Chad Morris, is a co-author of this study, which was published this month. The article may be behind a paywall, but contact Jim Pavlik at JIM.PAVLIK@cuanschutz.edu if you hope to read more than the abstract. Read the article, Effects of Varenicline, Bupropion, Nicotine Patch, and Placebo on Treating Smoking Among Persons With Current or Past Major Depressive Disorder: Secondary Analysis of a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial, via PsychiatryOnline.org.

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