ORG-3770 VS AMITRIPTYLINE IN THE CONTINUATION TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION- A PLACEBO-CONTROLLED TRIAL

One hundred and eighteen patients who participated in two short-term d ouble-blind comparisons of Org 3770, amitriptyline and placebo were su bsequently included into a 20-week extension trial. Data is presented from the extension trial. Lack of efficacy was the main reason for pat ient withdrawal in the placebo group, while adverse effects were so in both active-treatment groups. The Org 3770-treated group had the most favorable outcome: the mean group HAMD score remained less than or eq ual to 7 and CGI-Severity of Illness score less than or equal to 2. On ly 2.4% Org 3770 patients had an endpoint HAMD score greater than or e qual to 16. In the amitriptyline-treated group, the mean HAMD score st abilized at level less than or equal to 7 at week 12, with 10.4% patie nts having an endpoint HAMD score greater than or equal to 16. The mea n HAMD score of the placebo group remained greater than or equal to 7 throughout the trial, with 23.0% patients having an endpoint HAMD scor e greater than or equal to 16. Org 3770 was tolerated well, and advers e effects were present in substantially fewer patients than in the ami triptyline group.