Seasonal affective disorder and its prevention by
anticipatory treatment with bupropion XL
by
Modell JG, Rosenthal NE, Harriett AE, Krishen A, Asgharian A,
Foster VJ, Metz A, Rockett CB, Wightman DS.
GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park,
North Carolina, USA.
Biol Psychiatry. 2005 Oct 15;58(8):658-67.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can cause significant distress and impairment. No antidepressant studies have previously attempted to prevent the onset of autumn-winter depression. METHODS: Three prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled prevention trials were conducted on 1042 SAD patients, enrolled in autumn and treated while still well, across the northern US and Canada. Patients received either bupropion XL 150-300 mg or placebo daily by mouth from enrollment until spring and were then followed off medications for 8 additional weeks. Primary efficacy variables were end-of-treatment depression-free rates and survival distributions of depressive recurrence. RESULTS: Despite a reported average of 13 previous seasonal depressive episodes, almost 60% of patients had never previously been treated for depression. Major depression recurrence rates during the three studies for bupropion XL and placebo groups were 19% versus 30% (p = 0.026), 13% versus 21% (p = 0.049), and 16% versus 31%; yielding a relative risk reduction across the three studies of 44% for patients taking bupropion XL. Survival analyses for depression onset also favored bupropion XL over placebo (p = .081, .057, and <.001). CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to prevent recurrence of seasonal major depressive episodes by beginning bupropion treatment early in the season while patients are still well.

SAD
Zyban
Bupropion
Bupropion.com
Bupropion and REM
Bupropion overdose
Bupropion and mania
Bupropion and seizures
Bupropion and smoking
Bupropion for dysthymia
Bupropion and depression
Bupropion versus trazodone
Bupropion versus paroxetine
Dopamine and sexual function
Bupropion and its metabolites
Sertraline for anxious depressives
Bupropion (Wellbutrin) : structure
Bupropion versus methylphenidate (Ritalin)
Bupropion (Zyban): prescribing information (PDF)
Bupropion (Wellbutrin): prescribing information (PDF)

Refs
and further reading

HOME
HedWeb
Nootropics
cocaine.wiki
Future Opioids
BLTC Research
MDMA/Ecstasy
Superhapiness?
Utopian Surgery?
The Abolitionist Project
The Hedonistic Imperative
The Reproductive Revolution
Critique of Huxley's Brave New World

The Good Drug Guide
The Responsible Parent's Guide
To Healthy Mood Boosters For All The Family