Amitriptyline in Depressive States: Six-month Treatment Results

Abstract

The proven effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy (E.C.T.) and antidepressant drugs has lately led to a resurgence of interest in the treatment of depressive states. Amongst the principal problems currently confronting the clinician, the following would seem to be particularly pertinent: should E.C.T. be used in preference to drugs or vice versa? Which drug is to be preferred? Can drug response be predicted? How long should drugs be given? When are drugs contra-indicated? Given in maintenance dosage after a depressive episode, do antidepressants lower the rate of relapse? This paper, the third report on an investigation of the effectiveness of amitriptyline (‘Tryptizol’, ‘Elavil’, ‘Tryptanol’) and imipramine (‘Tofranil’) in depressive states, sets out to answer the above questions in the light of the results that were obtained.