Verbal memory and plasma drug concentrations in elderly depressives treated with nortriptyline.
Performance on a verbal memory task and affective state were assessed in geriatric major depressives before and during 6 weeks of treatment with nortriptyline (NT) in a fixed-dose design study. Higher plasma NT concentration was associated with poorer free recall but better affective outcome. In contrast, higher plasma Z-10-hydroxynortriptyline (Z-10-OH-NT) concentration was associated with more efficient free recall. Concentration-effect relationships were noted in patients later classified as cognitively unimpaired using the Dementia Rating Scale after optimal treatment, rather than in those with residual cognitive impairment.
Young
R C
RC
Cornell University Medical College, New York, NY.
Mattis
S
S
Alexopoulos
G S
GS
Meyers
B S
BS
Shindledecker
R D
RD
Dhar
A K
AK
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
D009661:Nortriptyline