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Psychological effects of nicardipine and propranolol on hypertensive patients
Author(s) -
CALLENDER J. S.,
MEDLEY I. R.,
ROBERTSON J. I. S.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
british journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.216
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1365-2125
pISSN - 0306-5251
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1986.tb00331.x
Subject(s) - nicardipine , propranolol , placebo , digit symbol substitution test , medicine , anesthesia , psychology , alternative medicine , pathology , calcium
1 The psychological effects of nicardipine and propranolol were assessed in a group of 30 hypertensive patients who were randomly allocated to treatment with one or other drug. 2 Baseline psychiatric and cognitive assessments were performed after a 4 week placebo washout phase and were repeated after 12 weeks of active drug treatment. 3 Impairments were found in both treatment groups on the Complex Figure Test, which assesses both constructional abilities and the ability to organise complex data. The propranolol group showed a significant increase in performance in the Digit Symbol Substitution Test; this was not seen in the nicardipine group. The nicardipine group reported a decreased sense of proficiency as assessed by a visual analogue scale. 4 In neither treatment group was there detectable impairment in psychiatric well‐being or ability to fulfil normal social roles. 5 The interpretation and implications of the findings are discussed.