Kasper, S., Hajak, G., Wulff, K., Hoogendijk, W.J., Montejo, A.L., Smeraldi, E., Rybakowski, J.K., Quera-Salva, M.A., Wirz-Justice, A.M., Picarel-Blanchot, F., & Baylé, F.J. (2010). Efficacy of the novel antidepressant agomelatine on the circadian rest-activity cycle and depressive and anxiety symptoms in patients with major depressive disorder: A randomized, double-blind comparison with sertraline. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 71, 109-120. doi:10.4088/JCP.09m05347blu

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: A Dimensional Approach to Measuring Antidepressant Response: Implications for Agomelatine

  AUTHORS: Sidney H. Kennedy, Anna Cyriac

  KEYWORDS: Symptom Dimensions; Major Depression; Antidepressants

  JOURNAL NAME: Psychology, Vol.3 No.10, October 22, 2012

  ABSTRACT: Current antidepressant treatments for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) have limited efficacy and effectiveness. While measurement of response and remission is typically based on overall symptom reduction, the utilization of a dimensional approach, involving mood, cognitive and neurovegetative symptoms, may be more effective in predicting response to different antidepressant classes. In addition to these dimensions, evaluation of function is increasingly recognized as an important patient indicator of antidepressant efficacy. This paper reviews the efficacy of second generation antidepressant classes across the proposed symptom dimensions, and explores the potential benefits of agomelatine. While further research is required, agomelatine generally performed well in the mood dimension including measures of depressed mood, anxiety and anhedonia without inducing emotional blunting. Improvements in daytime alertness and clear thinking, combined with measures of subjective and objective sleep differentiate agomelatine from other currently available antidepressants, and likely contribute to favourable functional outcomes.