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Clinical Trial
. 2004 Nov 11:4:38.
doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-4-38.

S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e) for the treatment of depression in people living with HIV/AIDS

R Andrew Shippy  1 , Douglas Mendez, Kristina Jones, Irene Cergnul, Stephen E Karpiak
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-e) for the treatment of depression in people living with HIV/AIDS

R Andrew Shippy et al. BMC Psychiatry. .

Abstract

Background: This study reports on clinical data from an 8-week open-label study of 20 HIV-seropositive individuals, diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (DSM-IV), who were treated with SAM-e (S-Adenosylmethionine). SAM-e may be a treatment alternative for the management of depression in a population reluctant to add another "pill" or another set of related side effects to an already complex highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimen.

Methods: The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were used to assess depressive symptomatology from 1,2,4,6 and 8 weeks after initiation of treatment with SAM-e.

Results: Data show a significant acute reduction in depressive symptomatology, as measured by both the HAM-D and the BDI instruments.

Conclusions: SAM-e has a rapid effect evident as soon as week 1 (p < .001), with progressive decreases in depression symptom rating scores throughout the 8 week study.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Mean BDI scores at each study visit (95% confidence intervals)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Mean HAM-D scores at each study visit (95% confidence intervals)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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    1. Shippy RA, Karpiak SE. The Aging HIV/AIDS Population: Fragile Social Networks. Aging and Mental Health. - PubMed

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