The olfactory deficits of depressed patients are restored after remission with venlafaxine treatment
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Contributors
Abstract
Background It is unclear whether olfactory deficits improve after remission in depressed patients. Therefore, we aimed to assess in drug-free patients the olfactory performance of patients with major depressive episodes (MDE) and its change after antidepressant treatment. Methods In the DEP-ARREST-CLIN study, 69 drug-free patients with a current MDE in the context of major depressive disorder (MDD) were assessed for their olfactory performances and depression severity, before and after 1 (M1) and 3 (M3) months of venlafaxine antidepressant treatment. They were compared to 32 age-and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). Olfaction was assessed with a psychophysical test, the Sniffin' Sticks test (Threshold: T score; Discrimination: D score; Identification: I score; total score: T + D + I = TDI score) and Pleasantness (pleasantness score: p score; neutral score: N score; unpleasantness score: U score). Results As compared to HCs, depressed patients had lower TDI olfactory scores [mean (s.d.) 30.0(4.5) v. 33.3(4.2), p < 0.001], T scores [5.6(2.6) v. 7.4(2.6), p < 0.01], p scores [7.5(3.0) v. 9.8(2.8), p < 0.001)] and higher N scores [3.5(2.6) v. 2.1(1.8), p < 0.01]. T, p and N scores at baseline were independent from depression and anhedonia severity. After venlafaxine treatment, significant increases of T scores [M1: 7.0(2.6) and M3: 6.8(3.1), p < 0.01] and p scores [M1: 8.1(3.0) and M3: 8.4(3.3), p < 0.05] were evidenced, in remitters only (T: p < 0.01; P: p < 0.01). Olfaction improvement was mediated by depression improvement. Conclusions The olfactory signature of MDE is restored after venlafaxine treatment. This olfaction improvement is mediated by depression improvement.
Details
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 2062-2070 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Psychological medicine |
Volume | 52 |
Issue number | 11 |
Publication status | Published - 22 Aug 2022 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
External IDs
ORCID | /0000-0001-9713-0183/work/146645433 |
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Keywords
Sustainable Development Goals
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- Antidepressants, major depression, major depressive disorder, olfaction, olfactory pleasantness, olfactory sensitivity, olfactory threshold, remission