Thirty newly hospitalized patients with RDC major or minor depressive
disorder were randomly assigned to open treatment according to fixed dosage
steps with 1) amitriptyline alone, up to a maximum dose of 300 mg/day; 2)
tranylcypromine alone, up to a maximum dose of 40 mg/day; or 3) the
combination of amitriptyline, up to 150 mg/day, and tranylcypromine, up to
20 mg/day. For 28 patients this protocol continued for 4 weeks or until
discharge. As measured by the Hamilton and Zung depression scales, patients
in all three treatment groups improved equally. The combination treatment
produced a nonsignificantly higher frequency of minor side effects, none of
which required discontinuation of treatment. The results indicate the
feasibility and safety of further controlled clinical research with
combined treatment, although caution is advised.Abstract Teaser