title: Effects of nortriptyline on memory self-assessment and performance in recovered elderly depressives.
abstract: The effects of nortriptyline (NTL) on memory were compared with those of placebo (PBO), in elderly subjects after recovery from a major depression. Subjective and objective memory was assessed using a repeated-measures discontinuation design. Average immediate, but not delayed, free recall, on a 20-item selective reminding test was adversely affected by medication. Free recall on placebo was stable over four learning trials and at delay. A different pattern of responses occurred on nortriptyline: Performance dropped off significantly on learning Trial 2, remained worse than placebo through Trial 4, but improved after a 15-min delay. Performance on measures of immediate and delayed recognition memory were comparable on nortriptyline and placebo. Discontinuation of nortriptyline resulted in significant improvement on a subset of nine memory self-assessment items. On questions addressing ability to retrieve recently learned information, subjects reported the greatest improvement while on placebo compared with nortriptyline.
authors.affiliation: New York Hospital-Westchester, Cornell Medical Center, White Plains 10605.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Meyers
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mattis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gabriele
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kakuma
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009661:Nortriptyline / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects*; D012647:Self-Assessment
chemical_list: D009661:Nortriptyline