A DOUBLE-BLIND COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF FLUOXETINE AND AMITRIPTYLINE ON COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN ELDERLY DEPRESSED-PATIENTS

Sixty-six elderly depressed patients received fluoxetine 20 mg (FLU) o r amitriptyline 75 mg (AMI) for 42 days in a double blind parallel gro up study. Each week, subjects completed a test battery which is sensit ive to the residual effects of psychoactive drugs. The results show th at FLU and AMI were equally effective in relieving depression. However , the psychometric test battery showed that, compared to FLU, AMI, as expected, produced impairments in cognitive function and psychomotor p erformance. The relative impairment of cognitive and psychomotor skill s following the tricyclic AMI and the lack of such activity after admi nistration of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibition, FLU are imp ortant considerations when prescribing antidepressants, especially whe n the safety and well being of ambulant patients is essential.