SAM-E as an Effective Treatment for Depression in People Living With HIV

Category: Conditions of the Brain

The prevalence of depression among people living with HIV (PLWH) is significant. The depression can be due to many factors including medication. Often PLWH are reluctant to take conventional antidepressants because of the addition of more medications, the cost, and the side effects involved with many antidepressants.

A recent study published in the online journal BMC Psychiatry looked at SAM-E (S-Adenosylmethionine) as a possible treatment option for PLWH. SAM-E is involved tin the metabolism of several neurotransmitters including dopamine and serotonin.

The study enrolled 20 subjects in an open label trial of SAM-E. The results were analyzed using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the Beck Depression Inventory, two well known psychological tools.

The results of the study show a significant decrease in depressive symptoms. Both the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and The Beck Depression Inventory had significant improvements, beginning in the first week of the study. The effects gradually increased over the eight-week study period.

This study provides important information about an alternative to conventional medications to treat depression in PLWH. SAM-E is a low cost alternative with little or no side effects. It also produces fast results that may help encourage PLWH to continue treatment.

The authors discuss the necessity for a follow-up study that is has a larger sample size to better understand the significance on a population such as PLWH. The model can also be applied to the general population of people living with depression to measure its effect. One drawback to the study was its open label design, which may generate a greater than expected placebo effect.

Posted by on November 14, 2008 10:00 AM