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Testosterone and Depression: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Studies suggest that testosterone (TT) replacement may have an antidepressant effect in depressed patients. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore the effect of TT administration on depression using both a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis. METHODOLOGY: A search was conducted of MEDLINE, the Clinical Trials Registry, and Cochrane Central for English-language publications concerning randomized, placebo-controlled trials involving use of TT therapy in depressed patients. We searched for additional trials in the individual reference lists of the articles identified in the search. A study was judged to be relevant for inclusion in this review and meta-analysis if it reported original data from a controlled trial comparing use of TT and placebo in patients diagnosed with a depressive disorder according to DSM criteria, and the treatment response was evaluated according to changes on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). We extracted the following data from the identified studies: study source, total number of participants in the study and in each treatment group, participants' ages, number of participants with a diagnosis of hypogonadism or HIV/AIDS, study duration, type of intervention, and change in HAM-D scores in the groups receiving TT versus placebo. The meta-analysis evaluated the effect of TT replacement on response in depressed patients as measured by change in HAM-D scores in the available placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trails. RESULTS: Seven studies (N=364) were identified that included a placebo-control group in a double-blind design. Eligibility criteria were clearly reported in all trials. Meta-analysis of the data from these seven studies showed a significant positive effect of TT therapy on HAM-D response in depressed patients when compared with placebo (z=4.04, P<0.0001). Subgroup analysis also showed a significant response in the subpopulations with hypogonadism (z=3.84, P=0.0001) and HIV/AIDS (z=3.33, P=0.0009) as well as in patients treated with TT gel (z=2.32, P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: TT may have an antidepressant effect in depressed patients, especially those with hypogonadism or HIV/AIDS and elderly subpopulations. The route by which TT is administered may play a role in treatment response.
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“A meta-analysis of studies noted significant benefits in select sub-populations, particularly among those with baseline low T and HIV.134”
From Challenges in Testosterone Measurement, Data Interpretation, and Methodological Appraisal of Interventional Trials (2016) · cites this paper as [134]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Zarrouf, F. A., Artz, S., Griffith, J., Sirbu, C., & Kommor, M.
- Affiliations
- West Virginia University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Zarrouf, Fahd Aziz
- ORCID
- Sirbu, Cristian
- Venue
- Journal of Psychiatric Practice
- Published
- 2009-07
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 289-305
- ISSN
- 1527-4160 (ISSN-L)
- 1538-1145
- OpenAlex
- W2072447154
- Cited by
- 383
- References
- 141
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 39 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 24
- FWCI
- 2.18
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Psychiatric Practice (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology (medical) › Treatment of Major Depression
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Keywords
- testosterone replacement therapy, depression, antidepressant effects, hypogonadism, HIV/AIDS, testosterone gel, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, elderly patients, route of administration
- MeSH terms
- Major Depressive Disorder, Humans, Hypogonadism, Male, Quality of Life, Registries, Sexual Behavior, Testosterone, Hormone Replacement Therapy, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
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