Decreased suicidal ideation in depressed patients with or without comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: An open study

Abstract

Comorbidity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with higher morbidity including suicidal ideation and behavior. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are a known treatment for PTSD, MDD and comorbid PTSD and MDD. Since the patients with comorbid MDD and PTSD (PTSD–MDD) are sicker, we hypothesize a poorer response to treatment compared to patients with MDD only. Ninety-six MDD patients were included in the study: 76 with MDD only and 20 with PTSD–MDD. Demographic and clinical parameters at baseline were assessed. We examined clinical parameters before and after 3months of open SSRI treatment in subjects with PTSD–MDD and compared this group to individuals with MDD only. At baseline, PTSD–MDD patients had higher Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Buss–Durkee Hostility Scale scores compared with MDD only subjects. There was a significant decrease in scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Hopelessness Scale, and Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation after 3months of treatment with SSRIs in both groups. The magnitude of improvement in Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation scores was greater in the PTSD–MDD group compared to the MDD only subjects. Symptoms of depression including suicidal ideation improved in MDD patients with or without comorbid PTSD after 3months of treatment with SSRIs but improvement in suicidal ideation was greater in the PTSD–MDD group. Our finding has not supported the hypothesis that a response to treatment is poorer in the PTSD–MDD group which may indicate that sicker patients benefit more from the treatment.