A DOUBLE-BLIND-STUDY OF L-SULPIRIDE VERSUS AMITRIPTYLINE IN LITHIUM-MAINTAINED BIPOLAR DEPRESSIVES

A double-blind group comparison study of L-sulpiride and amitriptyline was carried out in 30 bipolar outpatients on maintenance treatment wi th lithium suffering from a major depressive recurrence. L-sulpiride s howed equivalent antidepressant activity to amitriptyline at 4 weeks u sing the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. However, the onset of a ction was faster in the L-sulpiride group, showing a significant impro vement 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 sig nificantly higher in the amitriptyline treatment group.