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 .
Predictors of treatment outcome for major depression in primary care.
BACKGROUND A r and omized controlled clinical trial compared three treatments for major depression in primary care . Ninety-one patients were r and omized to receive either problem-solving , or amitriptyline with st and ard clinical management , or drug placebo with st and ard clinical management . This paper examines the possible predictive value of a range of demographic clinical and personality variables in determining outcome . METHODS To examine the interaction between treatment group and predictor variables , analyses of co-variants were carried out for two outcome measures : the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the Beck Depression Inventory . Predictor variables were also entered into a stepwise forward logistic regression in which patients were categorized as recovered or not recovered . RESULTS None of the predictor variables examined interacted with treatment to predict outcome . Patients with a longer duration of illness , chronic social difficulties , or definite , as opposed to probable , major depression had a poorer outcome at the end of treatment , irrespective of treatment group . CONCLUSIONS The findings in this study do not enable clear guidelines to be given as to which patients with major depression in primary care might benefit from either a psychological or pharmacological 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 .