Efficacy of Adjunctive Sertraline in Psoriasis Patients with Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Authors

  • Lingamallu Swapna
  • Sandeep Kapur

Keywords:

Psoriasis, Sertraline, Major Depressive Disorder, Randomized Controlled Trial, Psychodermatology, Inflammation, IL-6, PASI, HAM-D, Skin-Brain Axis

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis and major depressive disorder (MDD) frequently co-occur, driven by shared inflammatory pathways. While selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) possess immunomodulatory properties, randomized controlled trial (RCT) evidence for sertraline in psoriasis with comorbid MDD is lacking.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of adjunctive sertraline versus placebo in improving psoriasis severity (PASI-75) and depressive symptoms (HAM-D-17) at 12 weeks in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis and comorbid MDD.

Methods: This double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT enrolled 120 patients (1:1 allocation) with a PASI ≥10 and HAM-D ≥18. Standard dermatological therapy was continued. The primary outcome was PASI-75 at week 12. Secondary outcomes included HAM-D change, DLQI improvement, and serum IL-6/TNF-α levels. Analysis was by intention-to-treat.

Results: At week 12, 68.3% of sertraline-treated patients achieved PASI-75 versus 41.7% in the placebo group (p = 0.004). Mean HAM-D reduction was significantly greater with sertraline (-13.2 vs. -6.8, p < 0.001), and 55.4% achieved MDD remission vs. 26.8% (p = 0.002). IL-6 and TNF-α levels declined significantly more in the sertraline group (p < 0.001). Adverse events were mild and comparable between groups.

Conclusion: Adjunctive sertraline significantly enhances dermatological and psychiatric outcomes in patients with psoriasis and comorbid MDD, supporting its use as an effective, safe, and accessible adjunctive therapy...

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References

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Published

2023-12-07

How to Cite

1.
Swapna L, Kapur S. Efficacy of Adjunctive Sertraline in Psoriasis Patients with Comorbid Major Depressive Disorder: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Neonatal Surg [Internet]. 2023 Dec. 7 [cited 2026 Jun. 30];12(1):108-14. Available from: https://jneonatalsurg.com/index.php/jns/article/view/10405

Issue

Vol. 12 (2023): Journal of Neonatal Surgery

Section

Original Article

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