ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: A significant correlation exists between coronary artery diseases and depression. The aim of this trial was to compare the efficacy and safety of saffron versus fluoxetine in improving depressive symptoms of patients who were suffering from depression after performing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: In this randomized double-blind parallel-group study, 40 patients with a diagnosis of mild to moderate depression who had undergone PCI in the last six months were randomized to receive either fluoexetine (40mg/day) or saffron (30mg/day) capsule for six weeks. Participants were evaluated by Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS) at weeks 3 and 6 and the adverse events were systemically recorded. RESULTS: By the study endpoint, no significant difference was detected between two groups in reduction of HDRS scores (P=0.62). Remission and response rates were not significantly different as well (P=1.00 and P=0.67; respectively). There was no significant difference between two groups in the frequency of adverse events during this trial. LIMITATIONS: Relatively small sample size and short observational period were the major limitations of this study. CONCLUSION: Short-term therapy with saffron capsules showed the same antidepressant efficacy compared with fluoxetine in patients with a prior history of PCI who were suffering from depression.
Subject(s)
Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use , Crocus , Depression/drug therapy , Fluoxetine/therapeutic use , Percutaneous Coronary Intervention/statistics & numerical data , Phytotherapy , Severity of Illness Index , Antidepressive Agents/adverse effects , Crocus/adverse effects , Double-Blind Method , Female , Fluoxetine/adverse effects , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Phytotherapy/adverse effects , Plant Extracts/adverse effects , Plant Extracts/therapeutic use , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The effects of opium consumption on coronary artery disease are still unknown. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 2405 patients admitted to the Angiographic Ward at Tehran Heart Center from 7 May 2005 to 13 August 2005. RESULTS: After adjusting for conventional cardiovascular risk factors, opium consumption was a significant risk factor for coronary artery disease (P=0.01 and odds ratio=1.8). Moreover, the amount of opium consumption was associated significantly with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis, as measured by clinical vessel score (r=0.2, P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first time that the adverse effects of opium consumption on coronary arteries was defined.