RITANSERIN, IMIPRAMINE, AND PLACEBO IN THE TREATMENT OF DYSTHYMIC DISORDER

Citation
D. Bakish et al., RITANSERIN, IMIPRAMINE, AND PLACEBO IN THE TREATMENT OF DYSTHYMIC DISORDER, Journal of clinical psychopharmacology, 13(6), 1993, pp. 409-414
Citations number
8
Categorie Soggetti
Pharmacology & Pharmacy",Psychiatry
ISSN journal
02710749
Volume
13
Issue
6
Year of publication
1993
Pages
409 - 414
Database
ISI
SICI code
0271-0749(1993)13:6<409:RIAPIT>2.0.ZU;2-C
Abstract
Fifty outpatients with dysthymic disorder (DSM-III) were divided by do uble-blind randomized assignment into three groups given ritanserin, i mipramine, and placebo, respectively. The trial was of 7 weeks' durati on; by week 6, imipramine was clearly superior to placebo, whereas by week 7, both drugs caused significantly more improvement than the plac ebo. Although imipramine had slightly greater efficacy than ritanserin , it also had significantly more side effects. This was particularly e vident in the higher dropout rate with imipramine. The efficacy and si de effect profile of ritanserin makes it well tolerated and acceptable with dysthymic patients who, although they do not respond as quickly as patients with major depressive disorder, do show significant improv ement, given sufficient time.