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 .
The Family of the Asthmatic Child*
The authors report clinical study of 34 asthmatic children between the ages of ten and 15 , followed at a specialized outpatient clinic of a large pediatric hospital in Montreal . Evaluation of the children and their families involved the use of clinical scores with inter-rater agreement . The study found strong associations between certain personality traits and an excessive use of medication , and between personality traits and family structure . Regardless of the severity of their asthma , children with high levels of anxiety and dependence were more likely to live with highly cohesive families and to use greater quantities of cortisone  than children with better adapted personality structures . Pathological family setting s are known to cause more emotional and behaviour problems in children . We suggest there is a reciprocal influence , and we consider the effects on the family of an early childhood disease that is persistent , worrisome , unpredictable , and necessitates repeated hospitalization . Prospect i ve studies of the high-risk subgroups identified in this study could facilitate early intervention for asthmatic children and their families
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 .