Gender differences in treatment response to sertraline versus imipramine in patients with nonmelancholic depressive disorders

There is evidence of gender differences in depressive disorders in terms of epidemiology and clinical manifestations. However, few studies have addressed the gender differences in terms of antidepressant treatment response in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to examine gender differences in the acute antidepressant response to sertraline and imipramine in nonmelancholic depressive disorders. A total of 239 patients with nonmelancholic major depression or dysthymia (DSM-III-R) and a score of greater than or equal to18 at baseline on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) were randomised in a 1:1 ratio treatment with flexible doses of sertraline (50-200 mg/day) or imipramine (75-225 mg/day) for 8 weeks in a multicenter, randomised, open-labeled, parallel group comparative trial. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the HAM-D and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). Using HAM-D criteria, women were significantly more likely to respond to sertraline than to imipramine (72.2% vs. 52.1%, P=.008), whilst men respond similarly to sertraline and to imipramine (56.5% vs. 59.3%, P>.05). Response analysis based on HAM-A shows similar results (women: 68.9% vs. 43.6%, P=.001; men: 56.5% vs. 51.9%, P>.05). Women taking sertraline show statistically significant higher reductions in HAM-D, HAM-A, and in CGI-S than women taking imipramine. The proportion of women who dropped out due to adverse events was much lower in sertraline than in imipramine (10.9% vs. 27.8%, P=.006), with no differences between treatments in men (8.3% vs. 11.5%, P>.05). It was concluded that sertraline is more effective and better tolerated than imipramine in the acute treatment of nonmelancholic depressive disorders in women, whereas men responded similarly to sertraline and to imipramine. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.