Evaluation of the combination of tryptophan and ECT in the treatment of depression. I. Clinical analysis.
A double-blind evaluation of the antidepressant efficacy of treatment with a combination of orally administered L-tryptophan (L-TP) and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) was made in patients suffering from endogenous depression. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups, one treated with L-TP (6 g daily) and unilateral ECT, the other with placebo and unilateral ECT. L-TP treatment was initiated at least 1 day before the first ECT and terminated 4 days after the last ECT. There was a good agreement between the two groups in several measures of antidepressant efficacy: doctors' and patients' ratings of depressive symptoms, and doctors' global rating of therapeutic effect 4 days and 1 month after the last ECT. In the L-TP group, however, there was a significantly better effect on retardation symptoms in the nurses' rating scale. This difference, which is not consistent with other measures of amelioration, contributes, at most, to a marginal therapeutic addition to the antidepressant effect of ECT. It is concluded that oral administration of L-TP, in the dose of 6 g daily, is not of practical value for potentiating the antidepressant efficacy of ECT.
D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004565:Electroconvulsive Therapy; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013997:Time Factors; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008996:Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors; D014364:Tryptophan; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan