Lithium and desipramine versus desipramine alone in the treatment of severe major depression: A preliminary study

A. Cappiello, C. J. McDougle, P. L. Delgado, R. T. Malison, P. Jatlow, D. S. Charney, G. R. Heninger, L. H. Price

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Improvement following lithium augmentation is well-documented in depressed patients resistant to tricyclic antidepressants. However, response latency to lithium augmentation is extremely variable, suggesting other mechanisms may be involved. To evaluate whether long-term tricyclic treatment is necessary for lithium augmentation's effect, the rapidity and magnitude of response to lithium combined with desipramine from the start of treatment was compared to desipramine alone in severely depressed patients. Patients with DSM-III-R major depression were randomized to double-blind, placebo-controlled treatment with either lithium + desipramine or placebo + desipramine for 4 weeks. Response criteria were based on Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores and global improvement. Analysis of covariance of Hamilton scores demonstrated that lithium + desipramine was superior to placebo + desipramine at week 1 (P < 0.009), week 2 (P < 0.028), and week 3 (P < 0.07), although not at week 4. There were more responders to the combination than to monotherapy (P < 0.042). These preliminary data suggest that lithium + desipramine may have some efficacy in severely depressed patients. Further studies with larger samples are needed to confirm these findings.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)191-198
Number of pages8
JournalInternational Clinical Psychopharmacology
Volume13
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Desipramine
  • Lithium
  • Major depression

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