A comparison of amitriptyline and a fluphenazine/nortriptyline preparation in anxiety-depressive states.
Patients suffering from mixed anxiety/depressive reactions, referred to the out-patient department of a large psychiatric hospital, were treated with either amitriptyline tablets or fluphenazine with nortriptyline (f/n) tablets for a period of four weeks. The study utilized a double-blind, completely randomised design, and patients' progress was assessed by means of the Wing Present State Examination, the Wakefield Self-Assessment Depression Inventory, and a side effects inventory. Both the symptom rating scales showed that purely depressive symptomatology improved significantly in each treatment group, but the patients' self-ratings showed that only f/n produced a significant alleviation of anxiety symptoms and panic attacks. The patients receiving f/n rated themselves as significantly (p less than 0.05) less irritable, as well as less anxious, after 4 weeks treatment, than those receiving amitriptyline. The PSE schedule did not differentiate between the 2 treatment groups, but self-rating, which is a more sensitive method of eliciting drug effectiveness in patients suffering from mild psychiatric disorders, did demonstrate patient preference for f/n. This should have important implications for compliance with treatment.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005476:Fluphenazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D004338:Drug Combinations; D000639:Amitriptyline; D009661:Nortriptyline; D005476:Fluphenazine