A randomized, controlled trial of amitriptyline in the acute treatment of adolescent major depression.
OBJECTIVE
To determine amitriptyline's (AMI) efficacy in the acute treatment of adolescent major depressive disorder (MDD).


METHODS
Subjects aged 12 through 17 years meeting Research Diagnostic Criteria for MDD, diagnosed with the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children (K-SADS), participated in a 2-week placebo-washout followed by an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, parallel-design, placebo-controlled trial of AMI, 5 mg/kg per day. The K-SADS nine-item scale, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and the Clinical Global Impressions rating scale were used as outcome measures.


RESULTS
Thirty-one subjects were randomized (18 AMI, 13 placebo). Twenty-two subjects were study completers (12 AMI, 10 placebo). AMI's efficacy was suggested by the Clinical Global Impressions but not the K-SADS-derived data. Perhaps the primary limitation of the current study is its small sample size.


CONCLUSIONS
No definitive recommendation can be made regarding the efficacy of tricyclic antidepressants in the treatment of adolescent MDD.
Kye
C H
CH
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA 15213, USA.
Waterman
G S
GS
Ryan
N D
ND
Birmaher
B
B
Williamson
D E
DE
Iyengar
S
S
Dachille
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010919:Placebos; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D010919:Placebos; D000639:Amitriptyline