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A double‐blind study of L‐sulpiride versus amitriptyline in lithium‐maintained bipolar depressives
Author(s) -
Bocchetta A.,
Bernardi F.,
Burrai C.,
Pedditzi M.,
Zompo M.
Publication year - 1993
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.1600-0447.1993.tb03487.x
Subject(s) - sulpiride , amitriptyline , psychology , anticholinergic , somatization , antidepressant , depression (economics) , anxiety , psychiatry , lithium (medication) , medicine , anesthesia , antagonist , receptor , economics , macroeconomics
A double‐blind group comparison study of L‐sulpiride and amitriptyline was carried out in 30 bipolar outpatients on maintenance treatment with lithium suffering from a major depressive recurrence. L‐sulpiride showed equivalent antidepressant activity to amitriptyline at 4 weeks using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. However, the onset of action was faster in the L‐sulpiride group, showing a significant improvement at 1 week in both anxiety‐somatization and specific depression items, including depressed mood, feelings of guilt, work & activities and retardation. The incidence of anticholinergic side effects was significantly higher in the amitriptyline treatment group.