APA Annual Meeting Highlights New Research

(The following are highlights of new research presented at the 2000 American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting. Additional highlights can be found in "APA Meeting Highlights New Research," February issue of Psychiatric Times, p23--Ed.)

This pilot study by R. Taylor Segraves, M.D., and colleagues (NR 665) evaluated the safety and efficacy of bupropion SR for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in nondepressed women. Eligible patients (n=66) entered a four-week, single-blind placebo phase. Nonresponders during the placebo phase (n=51) entered an eight-week, single-blind treatment phase in which they received bupropion SR (average daily dose 290 mg/day).

During the treatment phase, 29% of the patients were considered to be responders. It was concluded that bupropion SR may be an effective treatment of HSDD, but further study is warranted.

Bupropion SR for SSRI-Induced Sexual Dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction affects 60% of patients taking SSRIs. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study by Adam K. Ashton, M.D., and colleagues (NR 684), 30 euthymic patients experiencing sexual dysfunction, as determined by the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX), were randomized to either bupropion SR 150 mg/day or placebo for three weeks.
The outcome showed that there were no significant differences between the bupropion SR and placebo groups, as measured by change in ASEX or HAM-D scores or side effects.

In this study, Thomas L. Schwartz, M.D., and Prakash S. Masand, M.D., (NR 193) assessed the efficacy of quetiapine(Drug information on quetiapine) (Seroquel) in the treatment of delirium. In a retrospective analysis using the Delirium Rating Scale (DRS), they evaluated 11 patients with delirium who were given quetiapine fumarate as first-line treatment for their symptoms (average dosage was 211.4 mg/day) and 11 patients with delirium who were given haloperidol(Drug information on haloperidol) (average dosage 3.4 mg/day).

The analysis indicated that quetiapine was as effective as haloperidol for the treatment of delirium. In fact, quetiapine was better tolerated than haloperidol. None of the patients taking quetiapine, including one with Parkinson's disease, developed EPS, while two patients taking haloperidol developed EPS, leading to discontinuation of the drug. The only adverse condition observed in two of the quetiapine-treated patients was mild-to-moderate sedation. Further studies, however, are needed to assess the role of quetiapine in treating patients with delirium.