The authors examined dose-response relationships in 62 agoraphobic
patients receiving either imipramine or placebo under double-blind
conditions in conjunction with behavioral interventions. At the end of 12
weeks, patients treated with imipramine had improved significantly more
than placebo patients. Results revealed that the beneficial therapeutic
effect of imipramine was dose dependent and suggested that optimal response
in agoraphobia may require doses of 150 mg/day or more. The results also
indicated that side effects can significantly interfere with the buildup of
optimal dose in agoraphobic patients treated with imipramine. The authors
briefly discuss the implications of these findings for clinical practice
and future research.Abstract Teaser