Continuation therapy with lithium and amitriptyline in unipolar depressive illness: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.
A detailed analysis of the results of a multi-centre clinical trial shows that, while the relapse rate following recovery from an operationally defined depressive illness was smaller among patients subsequently treated with either amitryptiline or lithium than with a placebo, there was no clinically significant difference between the prophylactic efficacy of the 2 antidepressants. An account is given of the relative adverse effects of the treatments, and the implications of the findings are discussed.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000639:Amitriptyline; D008094:Lithium