TY - JOUR
T1 - S-adenosyl-methionine in depression
T2 - A comprehensive review of the literature
AU - Papakostas, George I.
AU - Alpert, Jonathan E.
AU - Fava, Maurizio
N1 - Funding Information:
Financial support provided by American College of Neuro-psychopharmacology Glaxo SmithKline Fellowship in Clinical Neuropsychopharmacology (Dr. Papakostas), Harvard Medical School Kaplen Fellowship in Depression Research (Dr. Papakostas), Young Investigator Award from American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (Dr. Papakostas), and Pharmavite LLC (Dr. Alpert and Dr. Fava).
PY - 2003/12
Y1 - 2003/12
N2 - As many as 29% to 46% of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) show only partial or no response to an adequate course of an antidepressant. The current practice is to increase the dose, switch to another antidepressant, or to combine the initial antidepressant with an antidepressant of a different class or a non-antidepressant agent. A growing number of studies have also been directed toward exploring the potential use of augmenting traditional antidepressants with nonpharmaceutic supplements, or even using such supplements as monotherapy for depression. S-adenosyl-methionine (SAMe) is one such compound. Compared with many other nonpharmaceutic supplements, SAMe has been extensively studied, and impressive literature extending back three decades suggests the antidepressant efficacy of SAMe. In the present work, the authors summarize the literature, focusing on the potential role of SAMe and its precursors in the pathophysiology of MDD, followed by a review of studies examining the use of SAMe for the treatment of MDD. Finally, the authors propose a model that would explain the actions of SAMe in the central nervous system.
AB - As many as 29% to 46% of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) show only partial or no response to an adequate course of an antidepressant. The current practice is to increase the dose, switch to another antidepressant, or to combine the initial antidepressant with an antidepressant of a different class or a non-antidepressant agent. A growing number of studies have also been directed toward exploring the potential use of augmenting traditional antidepressants with nonpharmaceutic supplements, or even using such supplements as monotherapy for depression. S-adenosyl-methionine (SAMe) is one such compound. Compared with many other nonpharmaceutic supplements, SAMe has been extensively studied, and impressive literature extending back three decades suggests the antidepressant efficacy of SAMe. In the present work, the authors summarize the literature, focusing on the potential role of SAMe and its precursors in the pathophysiology of MDD, followed by a review of studies examining the use of SAMe for the treatment of MDD. Finally, the authors propose a model that would explain the actions of SAMe in the central nervous system.
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U2 - 10.1007/s11920-003-0085-2
DO - 10.1007/s11920-003-0085-2
M3 - Review article
C2 - 14609501
AN - SCOPUS:2942673042
SN - 1523-3812
VL - 5
SP - 460
EP - 466
JO - Current psychiatry reports
JF - Current psychiatry reports
IS - 6
ER -