The Efficacy of Venlafaxine in Treatment of Depression in Parkinson's Disease

Objective: Depression is the most common psychiatric disorder appearing in Parkinson's Disease (PD) with an average prevalence rate almost 40-50 %. Selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are currently used in the treatment of depression in patients with PD, but we have not found any studies in the literature regarding this treatment choice. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of venlafaxine, which is a SNRI antidepressant, in the treatment of depression in Parkinson's disease. Method: Fourteen non-fluctuating PD patients with depression were enrolled in the study. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), and the Hoehn-Yahr Scale (H+Y) were used to assess depression and Parkinsonism. Antiparkinson and other medications were unchanged during the study. Results: After 8 weeks of venlafaxine treatment, statistically significant improvement was seen in total scores of HAM-D and MADRS in all patients. On the other hand, the changes in UPDRS scores and H+Y stages were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The results of the study suggest that venlafaxine may be effective in the treatment of depression in patients with PD.