Antidepressants

To investigate the antidepressant Activity of the methanolic extract of the leaves of Musa x paradisiaca Linn This study was undertaken to evaluate the possible antidepressant effect of Musa x paradisiaca Linn leaf extract (MPLE) on different extracts like chloroform, methanol and aqueous extracts using Tail Suspension Test (TST) & Forced Swim Test (FST). 48 albino rats of either sex weighing between 180-220gm were randomly selected and divided into 8 equal groups. Group-I (control) received normal saline (1ml/100gm), Group- IV , V, VI, VII, VIII and IX received CEMPL (Chloroform Extract Musa x paradisiaca Linn) , MEMPL (Methanol  Extract Musa x paradisiaca Linn) and AEMPL (Aqueous Extract Musa x paradisiaca Linn) in doses of   200 and 400 mg/kg orally (P.O.) respectively. Group II & III (positive control) received Fluoxetine & Imipramine at doses of 20mg/kg & 15mg/kg P. O. respectively. Drug treatment was given for seven & fourteen successive day. 60 minutes after last dose of drug or standard the immobility period was recorded. The test compounds like crude methanolic extract at 200, 400 and 500 mg/ kg produced significant antidepressant like effect.  The efficacy of EALE at 200mg/kg was found to be comparable to that of Fluoxetine & Imipramine at doses of 20mg/kg & 15mg/kg.. The results revealed that the crude methanolic extract produces remarkable antidepressant activity by possessing the active compounds such as flavonoids, terpenes, alkaloids and saponins.

To study the prescribing pattern of antidepressants and their outcome differences in the Psychiatric unit of a Tertiary care hospital. A prospective observational study was carried out in the psychiatry outpatient department (OPD) of Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital. A total of 85 patients were enrolled for the study to investigate the prescribing pattern of antidepressants using a predesigned format out of which 82 of them completed the study successfully. Majority of subjects affected in our study were young adults within the age group of 19-38 years followed by age group 38-58 years Females suffered from depression more than their male counterparts. It was also found that married individuals (74.39%) suffered more from depression than unmarried people Bipolar affective disorder (85.9%) was the most common diagnosis in this study .Monotherapy was practiced more frequently than polytherapy with 2or more drugs and conventional drugs like SSRIs are more preferred than newer antidepressants in the hospital with Escitalopram being the most commonly prescribed drug. Females suffer from depression more than their male counterparts while the age of onset is almost same. Escitalopram, a newer drug belonging to SSRI, is the most frequently prescribed antidepressant whereas duloxetine is the preferred drug from newer antidepressant class (SNRIs & NDRIs combination). All the three major anti-depressants groups are equipotent at 2 months HDRS scoring.