Duloxetine Treatment in Elderly With Dysthymia

Exclusion Criteria

• •Current major depressive episode (SCID and DSM-IV)
• •Alcohol or substance dependence during the last year (SCID and DSM-IV)
• •Bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders(SCID and DSM-IV)
• •Clinical stroke, dementia, Huntington's disease, epilepsy or other major neurological disease
• •Acute unstable medical conditions
• •Active suicidal ideation or plan
• •Non-response to duloxetine (minimum 90 mg/day for 6 weeks) during the past year
• •A positive urine drug screen for substances of abuse or dependence
• •Sensitivity with intolerability to duloxetine
• •Use of other medications that may interact with duloxetine, including inhibitors of cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) and cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6), e.g., quinolone antibiotics and type 1-C anti-arrhythmics. Several antidepressant medications, including most SSRIs, are inhibitors of CYP2D6 but these medications are not permitted during this antidepressant treatment trial.
• •Patients with hypertension (BP \>140/90 mm Hg on 2 consecutive measurements). For patients with treated hypertension and BP \>140/90, written approval must be obtained from patient's internist allowing them to participate in this study.
• •Known liver damage or disease