The Journal of clinical psychiatry
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Randomized Controlled Trial Meta Analysis Comparative Study Clinical Trial
The effect of duloxetine on painful physical symptoms in depressed patients: do improvements in these symptoms result in higher remission rates?
Depression is a chronic disease consisting of emotional/psychological and physical symptoms. Emotional symptoms have been shown to respond to currently available antidepressants; however, physical symptoms may not be as responsive. It was hypothesized that resolution of both psychological and physical symptoms of depression would predict a higher percentage of patients achieving remission. ⋯ Treatment with duloxetine, 60 mg q.d., significantly reduced pain compared with placebo. Improvements in pain severity were attributable equally to the direct effect of duloxetine and to associated changes in depression severity. Improvement in painful physical symptoms was associated with higher remission rates even after accounting for improvement in core emotional symptoms.