PROSPECTIVE EVALUATION OF THE SEROTONIN SYNDROME IN DEPRESSED INPATIENTS TREATED WITH CLOMIPRAMINE

The serotonin syndrome, induced by serotoninergic agents, includes confusion, agitation, myoclonus, diaphoresis, tremor and diarrhea. The authors prospectively evaluated all these symptoms in 38 depressed inpatients fullfilling DSM-III-R criteria for major depression. Sixteen (42%) of 38 patients presented at least one symptom of serotonin syndrome. In 14 cases tremor and myoclonus occurred simultaneously, and 10 patients presented at the same time tremor plus myoclonus, diaphoresis and shivering. Except for 2 patients, symptoms were transient, lasted less than 1 week and disappeared with the pursuit of treatment.