title: Alprazolam, amitriptyline, doxepin, and placebo in the treatment of depression.
abstract: Five hundred four outpatients suffering from a major depressive episode were randomly assigned to receive either amitriptyline, doxepin, alprazolam, or placebo. The study was conducted in three treatment centers during a six-week period. All three active medications produced significantly more clinical improvement than did placebo, irrespective of the patient's initial anxiety, depression, and psychomotor retardation and irrespective of the patient's assignment to various subtypes of depression, including the DSM-III melancholia subtype. Compared with placebo, sedation was reported more frequently with all three medications, whereas anticholinergic effects were reported more frequently only for the two tricyclic antidepressants, but not for alprazolam.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rickels
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Feighner
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics; D000525:Alprazolam; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D004316:Doxepin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012894:Sleep Stages; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000139:chemically induced; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010919:Placebos; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D004316:Doxepin; D000639:Amitriptyline; D000525:Alprazolam