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Prevalence of Depression Among People Living with HIV/AIDS and Comparative Efficacy of Escitalopram Versus Agomelatine in HIV-Positive Patients with Depression in Kanpur, India
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| Author:
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DR PUSHPENDRA PUSHKAR, DR VIRENDRA KUSHWAHA, DR RANJIT KUMAR NIM, DR POOJA AGRAWAL, DR DHANANJAY CHAUDHARY, DR AMIT KUMAR, DR HIMANSHU SHARMA
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| Abstract:
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Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of depression and the changes in
depression symptoms following agomelatine and escitalopram drug therapy in HIV-positive patients suffering
from mild to moderate depression.
Methods: This was a prospective observational study in which HIV-positive patients on antiretroviral therapy
reporting to the ART centre were screened for depression as per the International Classification of Diseases.
The enrolled patients were randomly allocated into two groups to receive either agomelatine (25 mg/day) or
escitalopram (10 mg/day). Depression severity was assessed using the HAMD scale at Day-0 and each follow-up
visit.
Results: 194 HIV-positive patients on ART were screened, out of which 56 (28.87%) patients were found to be
suffering from depression. Out of 56 patients, 36 (64.28%), 17 (30.36%) and 3 (5.36%) patients were suffering
from mild, moderate and severe depression, respectively. Out of 49 patients enrolled, 40 completed the study.
The change from baseline to subsequent visits within-group HAMD scores was clinically relevant and statistically
significant (p <0.0001) in both groups of patients. There was a statistically significant difference in the betweengroup HAMD scores, with a greater reduction in score with escitalopram than with agomelatine.
Conclusions: The prevalence of depression among PLHA is substantial and highlight the grim need to include
mental health care including routine screening and treatment for mental disorders to optimize patient care,
improve quality of life and health outcomes. Escitalopram showed significantly higher efficacy than agomelatine
considering the early response and better relief from symptoms of depression
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| Keyword:
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Depression, HIV/AIDS, Prevalence, Escitalopram, Agomelatine
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| EOI:
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| DOI:
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https://doi.org/10.31838/ijpr/2021.13.03.007
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| Download:
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