A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial of Celecoxib Augmentation of Sertraline in Treatment of Drug-naive Depressed Women: A Pilot Study

This study was designed to examine the antidepressant effect of celecoxib (200 mg/day) augmentation of sertraline in the treatment of female patients with first episode of major depression over 8 weeks of therapy. Thirty female outpatients diagnosed with first episode of major depression, were recruited for this study. Participants were randomly assigned into two equal groups receiving either sertraline plus celecoxib 100 mg twice daily or sertraline plus placebo twice daily. Patients were assessed by Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Rating Scale at baseline, week 4 and week 8 of treatment. Both treatment groups showed notable improvement in their symptoms from baseline; however, celecoxib group showed greater decrease in Hamilton Depression Scores compared to the placebo group after four weeks of treatment. Response rates were also found to be significantly higher in the celecoxib group compared to the placebo group over 4 weeks. Nevertheless, the mentioned differences between two groups were not significant at the end of week 8. Also, remission rate was remarkably higher in celecoxib group in comparison with placebo at the end point. The results suggested that celecoxib may hasten the onset of therapeutic action of sertraline and increase response and remission rate in depressive disorders.