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A comparison of electroconvulsive therapy with a combined lithium and tricyclic combination among depressed tricyclic nonresponders
Author(s) -
Dinan T.G.,
Barry S.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1989.tb01306.x
Subject(s) - tricyclic , electroconvulsive therapy , tricyclic antidepressant , lithium (medication) , nortriptyline , antidepressant , medicine , anesthesia , psychology , pharmacology , amitriptyline , electroconvulsive shock , hippocampus
Thirty severely depressed patients who were resistant to tricyclic antidepressant therapy were randomly allocated to treatment either with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or addition of lithium (Li) to the tricyclic. Twenty‐one of the 30 patients significantly improved at the end of 3 weeks of treatment. There were no differences in improvement rates between the two groups. However, the patients treated with a Li/tricyclic combination improved more rapidly, showing significant alterations in mental state by day 7. It is suggested that in otherwise physically healthy patients who are tricyclic nonresponders, the addition of U may be a more rapid treatment than the use of ECT.