None listed
Conditions
Interventions
Nortriptyline (range 25-200 mg) or venlafaxine (range 75-300 mg).
Sponsors
None listed
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Male or female inpatient; 2. Aged 60 years or older; 3. Meet the DSM-IV criteria for major depression, single or recurrent episode (296.2x, 296.3x), dysthymic disorder (300.4), mood disorder due to a general medical condition, with depressive features or with major depressive -like episode (293.83), substance induced mood disorder with depressive features (292.84), depressive disorder not otherwise specified (i.e. minor depressive disorder) (311); 4. Have a baseline MADRS total score ? 20; 5. Have a baseline MMSE score > 15; 6. Written informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Known hypersensivity to venlafaxine or nortriptyline; 2. Previous unsuccessful treatment with venlafaxine for at least 4 weeks with a minimum dose of 75 mg/day or previous unsuccessful treatment with nortriptyline for at least 4 weeks with a serum level within the therapeutic range; 3. Relevant medical illness which is a contra-indication for the use of the study medication, such as myocardial infarction within previous 6 months; 4. Use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) within 30 days prior to baseline, use of a MAO inhibitor within 14 days, use of fluoxetine within 21 days, use of any antidepressant drug (except those allowed during the study as concomitant treatment) within 3 days prior to baseline; 5. Alcohol or drug abuse within the last year, according to DSM IV criteria; 6. Presence of dementia, or a non-affective psychotic disorder, or a history of bipolar disorder (I and II), all according to DSM-IV criteria.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Remission on the MADRS (final score of 10 or less). | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Remission on HAM-D and GDS, response on MADRS, HAM-D and GDS, number of side effects, Global Tolerability Score, MMSE, Barthel ADL score, SF-20. | — |
Contacts
Public ContactRob M. Kok
Altrecht GGZ Jutfaseweg 205
Outcome results
None listed