The authors conducted a double-blind prospective study of 39 patients
with unipolar endogenous depression who recovered after ECT. Thyrotropin
(TSH)-releasing hormone (TRH) tests were performed before and after ECT.
Patients were divided into three groups on the basis of their altered TSH
response: Persistent remission was predicted for patients in group 1 (N =
15) and relapse was predicted for groups 2A (N = 13) and 2B (N = 11).
Patients in groups 1 and 2A received placebo and those in group 2B received
amitriptyline for 6 months. Fewer relapses occurred in groups 1 and 2B than
in group 2A (p less than .05), showing that relapse can be predicted by the
TRH test and prevented by amitriptyline.Abstract Teaser