Conclusions : International differences in prescriber behaviour may influence , and in turn be influenced by , the conduct of clinical trials .
Objective : International differences are thought to exist in dosages used by clinicians treating mood disorders .
This study examined international dosage differences in antidepressant clinical trials , using a data base formed and maintained as a component of a Cochrane review of comparative clinical trials of fluoxetine .
Is anxious-agitated major depression responsive to fluoxetine? A double-blind comparison with amitriptyline.
Whether fluoxetine ( FX ) is effective in the treatment of  anxious depression  is still debated . In the present study , after one week of placebo ( single blind ) , 142 out patients affected by major depression with relevant anxiety and agitation were r and omly assigned ( double blind ) to either FX ( 20 mg/day ) ( n. 67 ) or amitriptyline ( AM ) ( daily dose : 115+/-39.2 mg ) ( n.75 ) for a period of 10 weeks . Between groups , the mean score of Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression ( HRSD ) was significantly different only after 3 weeks of treatment ( AM 14.7+/-5.7 vs FX 17.3+/-6.2 ( p = 0.02 ) , whereas at the end of the trial it was similar ( AM 8.15+/-6.9 ; FX 8.96+/-6.6 ) . At each visit , no significant difference between groups was found regarding the scores of the HRSD items " psychic anxiety " , " somatic anxiety " , " agitation " . Furthermore , the FIX treatment did not increase the scores of the items " suicide " , " psychic anxiety " , " somatic anxiety " , " agitation " and " insomnia " . These findings suggest that patients affected by major depression with anxiety and /or agitation were effectively and safely treated with FX without increasing risks
Conclusions : International differences in prescriber behaviour may influence , and in turn be influenced by , the conduct of clinical trials .
Objective : International differences are thought to exist in dosages used by clinicians treating mood disorders .
This study examined international dosage differences in antidepressant clinical trials , using a data base formed and maintained as a component of a Cochrane review of comparative clinical trials of fluoxetine .