Pregabalin in Somatoform Disorders

Abstract

Somatoform disorders (SD) are an example of the complex interaction between mind and body.

To estimate the efficacy of pregabalin (PG) versus combination of pregabalin and antidepressants in patients with SD who were previously on long-term treatment with at least three antidepressants (SSRI, SNRI, SARIs, SNDIs, MAOI, TCAs) in an adequate therapeutic dose and had a partial response on it. In this open label trial investigators diagnosed 41 patients by standard clinical interview as F 45.0 and F 45.4 according to ICD-10 criteria and divided them in two groups: experimental (Pregabalin, 20 patients) and control group (Pregabalin + antidepressant, 21 patients). Patients also had comorbid diagnoses as follows: F 41.1, F 32, F 33 or F 34. Assessment was done by 100 mm Visual analogue scale (VAS) and by Clinical Global Impression Scale (CGI). Within both groups there was a statistically significant improvement measured by VAS and CGI scales in all repeated measurements, except for the CGI scale in both groups between the second and ninth month where there was no statistical difference. There were no statistically significant differences between CG and EG on both scales either in the beginning or in repeated measurements. There was no difference in the effects of the drugs between EG and CG on both scales- VAS & CGI. Pregabalin as mono or as an adjuvant therapy had equally good efficiency in patients with SD who had partial response on various antidepressants therapy after long-term treatment.

Disclosure of interest

Results from part of this trial were published as abstract in european psychiatry, Volume 30. Supplement 1, 28–31 March 2015, Pages 534 – “Somatoform Disorders-a New Target for Pregabalin”, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0924-9338(15)30418-1.