Dopaminergic hypothesis for retarded depression: a symptom profile for predicting therapeutical responses.
We assessed the therapeutical efficacy of various antidepressants (amineptine, minaprine and clomipramine) in patients affected by retarded depression. All patients exhibited symptoms of retardation, including hypokinesia, anergia, reduction of speech, increased salivation, hypersomnia, Parinaud's syndrome, reduced sexual activity, slowness, hypomimia, orthostatic hypotension, dysphagia and drowsiness. Antidepressant drugs were administered for a 6-week period in a randomized double-blind vs placebo design. The rank order of clinical effectiveness (amineptine much greater than minaprine greater than clomipramine greater than placebo) paralleled the specificity of antidepressants as dopaminomimetic agents. These results support the view that a reduced dopaminergic transmission contributes to the pathophysiology of retarded depression.
Rampello
L
L
Institute of Neurology, University of Catania, Italy.
Nicoletti
G
G
Raffaele
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D002997:Clomipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003986:Dibenzocycloheptenes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D003986:Dibenzocycloheptenes; D011724:Pyridazines; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; C006149:minaprine; C011597:amineptin; D002997:Clomipramine