passage-177
abstract
Incidence and predictors of activation syndrome induced by antidepressants.  BACKGROUND: Activation syndrome is a side effect of antidepressants that is thought to carry a potentially increased risk of suicide. However, the incidence of activation syndrome has not been fully investigated and little has been reported on its predictors. The aim of this study was to survey the incidence of activation syndrome and clarify its predictors in a natural clinical setting. METHODS: Among 2,521 new outpatients visiting between August 2003 and March 2005, we retrospectively surveyed the case records of 729 patients who had not taken any antidepressants during the 1 month before presentation and were prescribed antidepressants for 3 months after the initial visit. Patients were classified as developing activation syndrome if they experienced any symptom of anxiety, agitation, panic attacks, insomnia, irritability, hostility, aggressiveness, impulsivity, akathisia, hypomania, and mania during the first 3 months. RESULTS: Of the 729 patients, 31 (4.3%) developed activation syndrome. The incidence was not significantly related to gender, age, class of antidepressant, combined use of benzodiazepine, or DSM-IV-TR diagnosis except for personality disorder. Diagnosis of personality disorder was significantly associated with the induction of activation syndrome (odds ratio=4.20, P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that diagnosis of personality disorder may be a clinical predictor of activation syndrome.
entity-177-0
DISEASE
activation syndrome
entity-177-1
DISEASE
Activation syndrome
entity-177-2
DISEASE
suicide
entity-177-3
DISEASE
activation syndrome
entity-177-4
DISEASE
activation syndrome
entity-177-5
DISEASE
activation syndrome
entity-177-6
DISEASE
anxiety
entity-177-7
DISEASE
agitation
entity-177-8
DISEASE
panic attacks
entity-177-9
DISEASE
insomnia
entity-177-10
DISEASE
irritability
entity-177-11
DISEASE
hostility
entity-177-12
DISEASE
aggressiveness
entity-177-13
DISEASE
akathisia
entity-177-14
DISEASE
hypomania
entity-177-15
DISEASE
mania
entity-177-16
DISEASE
activation syndrome
entity-177-17
DISEASE
personality disorder
entity-177-18
DISEASE
personality disorder
entity-177-19
DISEASE
activation syndrome
entity-177-20
DISEASE
personality disorder
entity-177-21
DISEASE
activation syndrome