title: Imipramine treatment of alcoholics with primary depression: A placebo-controlled clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depressive disorders are commonly comorbid with alcoholism, particularly in treatment-seeking samples. If antidepressant treatment were safe and improved the treatment outcome in the subset of actively drinking alcoholics with depression, this would be of clinical importance.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomized, 12-week placebo-controlled trial of imipramine hydrochloride combined with weekly relapse prevention psychotherapy. The subjects were 69 actively drinking alcoholic outpatients with current depressive disorders. The first onset of depression was either antecedent to the abuse of alcohol or occurred during prolonged periods of sobriety. Depression and drinking outcomes at 12 weeks, as well as their relationship, were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Imipramine treatment was safe and associated with improvement in depression in both adequately treated and intention-to-treat samples. While there was no overall effect on drinking outcome, patients whose mood improved showed decreased alcohol consumption that was more marked in those treated with imipramine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Imipramine treatment is effective for primary depression among actively drinking alcoholic outpatients, and may improve alcoholic outcome for those whose depression responds to treatment.
authors.affiliation: New York State Psychiatric Institute and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY. USA.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McGrath
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Agosti
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ocepek-Welikson
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Quitkin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D000436:Alcoholics Anonymous; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D007099:Imipramine