title: Comparative effects of amitriptyline and amineptine in patients affected by anxious depression.
abstract: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, the therapeutic efficacy of two antidepressants with different neurochemical mechanisms of action, amitriptyline and amineptine, was investigated in patients affected by anxious depression. Sixty-six patients with the primary diagnosis of major depression or bipolar affective disorder (DSM-III-R) and meeting additional operational clinical criteria such as anxiety, trepidation, restlessness, early and/or late insomnia, impulsivity, hostility, dysphoria, compulsivity, hyperperspiration, palpitation, pollakiuria and phobias were included. They were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 22) and treated either with placebo, amitriptyline (up to 100 mg/day) or amineptine (up to 200 mg/day) for 6 weeks. Patients showed better response to amitriptyline, a preferential inhibitor of serotonin reuptake, than to amineptine, a selective inhibitor of dopamine reuptake. The present results suggest that alterations in serotonergic rather than dopaminergic transmission contribute to the pathophysiology of anxious depression.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurological Sciences, University of Catania, School of Medicine, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rampello
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Raffaele
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Drago
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003986:Dibenzocycloheptenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
chemical_list: D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D003986:Dibenzocycloheptenes; D000639:Amitriptyline; C011597:amineptin