Aripiprazole in the treatment of depression with somatic symptoms

Objective: To study the efficacy and safety of fluvoxamine augmented with aripiprazole in the treatment of depression with somatic symptoms. Method: 60 depression patients with somatic symptoms were randomly divided into two equal groups(n = 30) for 8 week treatments. The treatment group was treated with fluvoxamine augmented with aripiprazole and the control group was treated with fluvoxamine only. We used Hamilton rating scale of depression (HAMD) and treatment emergent symptom scale (TESS) to assess the treatment effects and adverse effects at baseline,week,2、4 and 8 . Results: After 8 weeks treatment both groups have significant reduction in HAMD scores(P 0. 01) . There is significant difference between two groups (P 0. 05) . The treatment group showed significant decrease at the first weekend(P 0. 01) while the control group showed significant decrease after two weeks (P 0. 01) . Anxiety,somatization and despair scores of HAMD got down more rapidly in the treatment group. The two groups showed no significant differences in TESS scores(P 0. 05) . Conclusion: Fluvoxamine augmented with aripiprazole is more effective and safe than fluvoxamine only in the treatment of depression with somatic symptoms.