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Tricyclic antidepressants and tryptophan in unipolar depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

David M. Shaw ,
David A. Macsweeney ,
Robyn Hewland  and
Anthony L. Johnson
David M. Shaw
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Neuropsychiatry Unit, West Park Hospital, Epsom, Surrey
David A. Macsweeney
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Neuropsychiatry Unit, West Park Hospital, Epsom, Surrey
Robyn Hewland
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Neuropsychiatry Unit, West Park Hospital, Epsom, Surrey
Anthony L. Johnson
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Neuropsychiatry Unit, West Park Hospital, Epsom, Surrey
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Synopsis

Depressed patients (unipolar) were given one of the following combinations in an attempt to test aspects of the ‘amine hypothesis’ and to find a preferential therapy: (1) clomipramine; (2) clomipramine and tryptophan; (3) desipramine and clomipramine, and (4) desipramine and tryptophan. Treatment (2) should have given optimal potentiation of 5-HT neurones and (3) and (4) should have acted similarly on both serotoninergic and adrenergic pathways. In no group was there any evidence of accelerated recovery, indicating that the process of conversion to normal mood may be more complex than suggested by most versions of the amine hypothesis.

Type
Original Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 5 , Issue 3 , August 1975 , pp. 276 - 278
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

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