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Effective Low Dose Tricyclic Antidepressant Treatment for Depressed Geriatric Rehabilitation Patients: A Double‐Blind Study
Author(s) -
Lakshmanan Mark,
Mion Lorraine C.,
Frengley J. Dermot
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of the american geriatrics society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.992
H-Index - 232
eISSN - 1532-5415
pISSN - 0002-8614
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-5415.1986.tb03408.x
Subject(s) - doxepin , medicine , placebo , tricyclic , depression (economics) , geriatric depression scale , tricyclic antidepressant , antidepressant , physical therapy , psychiatry , depressive symptoms , anesthesia , pharmacology , cognition , alternative medicine , hippocampus , economics , macroeconomics , pathology
The efficacy of low doses (10 to 20 mg daily) of doxepin in the treatment of depressive disorders in elderly inpatients was assessed by a double‐blind study in 24 patients. The patients were treated for a three‐week period to test for an early response. The Hamilton Depression Scale and the Geriatric Depression Scale were used to quantify symptoms of depression. The patients treated with doxepin had a significantly greater reduction in depressive symptoms than did those who received a placebo. No side effects were found and there were no major differences in the degree of physical dependency between the doxepin and placebo groups. A depressive disorder is a common occurrence among elderly inpatients and the effectiveness of low dose doxepin therapy without demonstrable side effects argues for the active treatment for this condition. J Am Geriatr Soc 34:421–426, 1986