Antidepressant Treatment of Melancholia in Late Life
Completed · Phase 4
Conditions studied: Depression, Melancholia
In brief
The purpose of this study is to compare the safety and effectiveness of a select serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI, sertraline) and a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA, nortriptyline) in outpatients over the age of 60 who have major depression. SSRIs are effective in the treatment of major depression. However, there is also evidence that SSRIs may be significantly less effective than TCAs for patients with late-life major depression with melancholia. Since SSRIs seem to be easier to take than TCAs and are more widely prescribed, it is important to determine which of these types of antidepressants works best to treat these patients. Patients will be assigned randomly to receive either sertraline (a SSRI) or nortriptyline (a TCA) for 12 weeks. Patients will be monitored for symptoms, side effects, and quality of life. If a patient responds to treatment, he/she will participate in a 6-month continuation phase in which he/she will continue to receive the same medication. An individual may be eligible for this study if he/she: Has unipolar major depression (with some exceptions) and is over 60 years old.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT00000378
- Run by
- New York State Psychiatric Institute
- People needed
- 110
- Starts
- 1997-07-01
- Expected to finish
- 2002-06-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2015-10-07
Who can join
Age: 60 and older, up to 95. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Patients must have:
- Unipolar major depression (per Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel-IV criteria) with or without melancholia.
You may not qualify if…
- Patients with the following symptoms or conditions are excluded:
- Psychotic or atypical subtype of unipolar major depression.
Where it is running
- 1051 Riverside Drive — New York, New York, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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