Placebo-Control Evaluation of Desipramine in Depression
ANTHONY LAPOLLA M.D.1, and
HARRY JONES M.D.2
1 Assistant superintendent, Camarillo State Hospital, Camarillo, Calif. 93010
2 Senior psychiatrist in the adolescent treatment center, Camarillo State Hospital, Camarillo, Calif. 93010
A double-blind clinical trial was conducted to compare the effectiveness of desipramine and placebo in newly hospitalized patients. Analysis of data from 74 patients (34 on desipramine, 40 on placebo) showed that in patients with endogenous depression, the response to desipramine was superior to response to placebo as early as the fifth day of treatment; in patients with neurotic (reactive) depression, no significant differences in response were found.
