Amitriptyline is an efficacious antidepressant drug .
It is , however , also associated with a number of side effects .
Degree of placebo response and severity of depression at baseline may moderate drug-placebo efficacy differences
BACKGROUND Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant that was synthesis ed in 1960 and introduced as early as 1961 in the USA , but is still regularly used .
It has also been frequently used as an active comparator in trials on newer antidepressants and can therefore be called a ' benchmark ' antidepressant .
However , its efficacy and safety compared to placebo in the treatment of major depression has not been assessed in a systematic review and meta- analysis .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of amitriptyline compared to placebo or no treatment for major depressive disorder in adults .
Interaction of drug therapy with marital therapy in depressive patients.
Comparative effects of the antidepressant drug , amitriptyline hydrochloride , marital therapy , and the drug-psychotherapy interaction effects were studied in a 12-week course of treatment of outpatient depressives . Patients were assigned r and omly to four treatment groups , in a 2 times 2 factorial design : ( 1 ) drug-marital therapy ; ( 2 ) drug-minimal contact ; ( 3 ) placebo-marital therapy ; and ( 4 ) placebo-minimal contact . Both drug and marital therapy showed substantial beneficial advantages over their control conditions , but drug therapy was faster and generally superior in symptom relief and clinical improvement . Marital therapy was superior in family role task performance and perception of the marital relationship . For reducing hostility and enhancing the perception of the marital relationship , drug therapy had a better early effect , but marital therapy had superior effects by the end of treatment
Amitriptyline is an efficacious antidepressant drug .
It is , however , also associated with a number of side effects .
Degree of placebo response and severity of depression at baseline may moderate drug-placebo efficacy differences
BACKGROUND Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant that was synthesis ed in 1960 and introduced as early as 1961 in the USA , but is still regularly used .
It has also been frequently used as an active comparator in trials on newer antidepressants and can therefore be called a ' benchmark ' antidepressant .
However , its efficacy and safety compared to placebo in the treatment of major depression has not been assessed in a systematic review and meta- analysis .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of amitriptyline compared to placebo or no treatment for major depressive disorder in adults .