Fluoxetine therapy in depersonalisation disorder: Randomised controlled trial

Abstract

BackgroundDespite anecdotal reports that serotonin reuptake inhibitors may improve depersonalisation, there is no proven efficacious treatment for depersonalisation disorder.AimsTo investigate the efficacy of fluoxetine in the treatment of depersonalisation disorder.MethodFifty-four people who met DSM-IV criteria for depersonalisation disorder were recruited through newspaper advertisements, and 50 were randomised to a 10-week, double-blind trial of fluoxetine 10–60 mg/day or placebo. Primary outcome measures were the Dissociative Experiences Scale-epersonalisation Factor, the Depersonalization Severity Scale and the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-1) scale.ResultsIntention-to-treat analysis revealed that fluoxetine (mean dosage 48 mg/day) was not superior to placebo except for a clinically minimal but statistically significantly greater improvement in CGI-I score in the fluoxetine group prior to covarying for anxiety and depression (2.9 v. 3.6). Depersonalisation was significantly more likely to improve if comorbid anxiety disorder improved.ConclusionsFluoxetine was not efficacious in treating depersonalisation disorder, despite the commonly reported clinical use of serotonin reuptake inhibitors for this condition.