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Single-blind, placebo phase-in trial of two escalating doses of selegiline in the chronic fatigue syndrome.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Natelson, BH; Cheu, J; Hill, N; Bergen, M; Korn, L; Denny, T; Dahl, K
Published in: Neuropsychobiology
1998

AIM: To perform a clinical trial of selegiline in 25 patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) where patients were told they would receive placebo or active agent at different times during the 6-week trial. We chose selegiline, a specific monoamine oxidase (MAO) B receptor inhibitor, because a prior trial of lowdose phenelzine, a nonspecific MAO inhibitor, showed a small but significant therapeutic effect. METHODS: Questionnaires comprised of 19 tests of mood, fatigue, functional status and symptom severity were collected at the start and end of the trial as well as 2 weeks after its start. The trial was done in three 2-week blocks: in the first, 2 placebo pills were given per day; in the next, one 5-mg tablet of agent and one placebo were given per day, and in the last, a 5-mg tablet of agent was given twice a day. The plan was to compare the changes in the 19 tests during the placebo phase to those found in the active treatment phase in 19 patients completing the trial. FINDINGS: Significant improvement in 3 variables-tension/anxiety, vigor and sexual relations-was found. A significant pattern of improvement compared to worsening was found for the 19 self-report vehicles during active treatment as compared with placebo treatment. Evidence for an antidepressant effect of the drug was not found. CONCLUSIONS: Selegiline has a small but significant therapeutic effect in CFS which appears independent of an antidepressant effect.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Neuropsychobiology

DOI

ISSN

0302-282X

Publication Date

1998

Volume

37

Issue

3

Start / End Page

150 / 154

Location

Switzerland

Related Subject Headings

  • Selegiline
  • Psychiatry
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
  • Humans
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Affect
  • Activities of Daily Living
  • 5202 Biological psychology
 

Citation

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Natelson, B. H., Cheu, J., Hill, N., Bergen, M., Korn, L., Denny, T., & Dahl, K. (1998). Single-blind, placebo phase-in trial of two escalating doses of selegiline in the chronic fatigue syndrome. Neuropsychobiology, 37(3), 150–154. https://doi.org/10.1159/000026494
Natelson, B. H., J. Cheu, N. Hill, M. Bergen, L. Korn, T. Denny, and K. Dahl. “Single-blind, placebo phase-in trial of two escalating doses of selegiline in the chronic fatigue syndrome.Neuropsychobiology 37, no. 3 (1998): 150–54. https://doi.org/10.1159/000026494.
Natelson BH, Cheu J, Hill N, Bergen M, Korn L, Denny T, et al. Single-blind, placebo phase-in trial of two escalating doses of selegiline in the chronic fatigue syndrome. Neuropsychobiology. 1998;37(3):150–4.
Natelson, B. H., et al. “Single-blind, placebo phase-in trial of two escalating doses of selegiline in the chronic fatigue syndrome.Neuropsychobiology, vol. 37, no. 3, 1998, pp. 150–54. Pubmed, doi:10.1159/000026494.
Natelson BH, Cheu J, Hill N, Bergen M, Korn L, Denny T, Dahl K. Single-blind, placebo phase-in trial of two escalating doses of selegiline in the chronic fatigue syndrome. Neuropsychobiology. 1998;37(3):150–154.
Journal cover image

Published In

Neuropsychobiology

DOI

ISSN

0302-282X

Publication Date

1998

Volume

37

Issue

3

Start / End Page

150 / 154

Location

Switzerland

Related Subject Headings

  • Selegiline
  • Psychiatry
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
  • Humans
  • Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Affect
  • Activities of Daily Living
  • 5202 Biological psychology