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 .
The impact of antidepressants on sleep and anxiety: a comparative study of fluoxetine and dothiepin using the Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire
Fluoxetine ( 20 mg ) was compared to dothiepin ( 150 mg ) in a multicentre , prospect i ve , double blind , r and omised clinical trial involving 125 patients with major depression treated for an initial phase of 6 weeks and then followed up for a further 6 months . There was no difference in the efficacy of the two drugs based on the results of established rating scales ( MADRS , HAM‐D , BPRS ) . The impact of both drugs on sleep measured using the Leeds Sleep Evaluation Question naire showed no significant differences between treatments , however drowsiness and disturbed sleep were reported more frequently as side effects with dothiepin  . Symptoms of anxiety responded equally well to both treatments . The short term and long term tolerability  of dothiepin was inferior to that of fluoxetine . The place of dothiepin in treatment should be reassessed in the light of its anticholinergic adverse event profile , particularly in the elderly . Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons ,
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 .