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The Efficacy and Tolerability of Combined Antidepressant Treatment in Different Depressive Subgroups

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Sinead O'brien ,
Patrick McKeon  and
Myra O'regan
Sinead O'brien*
Affiliation:
Student Health Centre, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
Patrick McKeon
Affiliation:
Depression Research Unit, St Patrick's Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland
Myra O'regan
Affiliation:
Statistics and Operations Research Laboratory, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

Eighty patients admitted to hospital with major depression were randomly allocated to six weeks of treatment with tranylcypromine, amitriptyline, or tranylcypromine and amitriptyline in combination, in a double-blind study. Scores on the HRSD improved significantly in all three groups, but there were no differences between the three groups. Patients on tranylcypromine and amitriptyline combined improved more according to their self-ratings after six weeks, and response was earlier as measured by a clinical global improvement scale. Those with endogenous depression improved more than those with neurotic depression, irrespective of treatment group. Combined treatment was less well tolerated than single treatments and gave rise to more side-effects, although there was no serious toxicity. Orthostatic hypotension was observed more frequently in patients on combined treatment. This group also experienced a significant increase in weight and prolongation of the P-R interval on ECG.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 162 , Issue 3 , March 1993 , pp. 363 - 368
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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