Acute open-trial nortriptyline therapy of bereavement-related depression in late life.
J Clin Psychiatry
; 52(7): 307-10, 1991 Jul.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-2071562
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to generate preliminary data on the clinical efficacy of nortriptyline in bereavement-related depression in late life. METHODS: Data are presented on 13 patients (5 men, 8 women), ranging in age from 61 to 78 years (mean = 71.1). Mean time from spousal loss to the beginning of treatment was 11.9 months (range 2-25). Subjects were required to meet Research Diagnostic Criteria for syndromal current major depression and to have a stable Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) score of greater than or equal to 15. Ten of the 13 volunteers were experiencing their first lifetime episode of major depression. Patients were treated with nortriptyline (mean dose = 49.2 mg/day; mean steady-state level = 68.1 ng/mL). Ratings performed at base-line and weekly during therapy were used to assess symptomatology, intensity of grief, level of functioning, social support, physical impairment, and medication side effects. RESULTS: Pretreatment HAM-D ratings average 22.1 +/- 3.6; posttreatment, 7.2 +/- 2.8, representing a 67.9% decrease. All other rating scales showed significant clinical improvement, except the Texas Revised Inventory of Grief (a measure of grief intensity) (pretreatment, 51.4 +/- 7.3; posttreatment, 46.6 +/- 6.9, only a 9.3% decrease). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that nortriptyline is associated with significant symptomatic improvement in all areas of bereavement-related depression except continued intensity of grief after a median treatment interval of 6.4 weeks. This study indicates the need for a controlled clinical trial to determine the placebo response rate, the relapse rate after discontinuation of medication, and the value of combination therapy (using both pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy).
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Pesar
/
Transtorno Depressivo
/
Nortriptilina
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
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Observational_studies
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Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Aged
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Clin Psychiatry
Ano de publicação:
1991
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de publicação:
Estados Unidos