Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-12T22:13:40.606Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Effect of Forewarning on the Occurrence of Side-effects and Discontinuance of Medication in Patients on Amitriptyline

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

E. D. Myers  and
E. J. Calvert
E. D. Myers
Affiliation:
North Staffordshire Hospital Group, St. Edward's Hospital, Cheddleton, Leek, Staffs., ST13 7EB
E. J. Calvert
Affiliation:
Cranage Hospital, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire (Now at Stockport and Buxton Hospital Group.)
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

It is generally accepted that psychological factors are of importance in determining the effects of drugs—beneficial or adverse (Green, 1964; Wilson, 1966; Boszormenyi, 1969). Placebo studies have suggested that one such psychological factor may be prior knowledge of side-effects (Wolf, 1950; M.R.C., 1950; Coleman, 1969). In a controlled trial of amitriptyline in general practice (Blashki et al., 1971) the patients were asked to record their experience of side-effects on a prepared list, and it was thought that this might have ‘involved the risk of suggesting side-effects to the patients'. In a controlled trial of Imipramine in general practice (Porter, 1970) the data suggested that side-effects were an important cause for patients abandoning treatment. Doctors may be chary of detailing side-effects, thinking that imparting such knowledge to patients may in a proportion of them induce the side-effects to appear and lead to discontinuance of therapy.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 122 , Issue 569 , April 1973 , pp. 461 - 464
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1973 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Blashki, T. G., Mowbray, R., and Davis, B. (1971). ‘Controlled trial of amitriptyline in general practice.’ British Medical Journal, i, 133–8.Google Scholar
Boszormenyi, Z. (1969). ‘The side-effects of drugs.’ International Journal of Psychiatry, 7, 294–6.Google Scholar
Browne, M. W., Kreeger, L. C., and Kazamus, N. C. (1963). ‘A clinical trial of amitriptyline in depressive patients.’ British Journal of Psychiatry, 109, 692–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Burt, G. C., Gordon, W. F., Holt, N. F., and Horden, A. (1962). ‘Amitriptyline—a controlled trial in chronic depressive states.’ Journal of Mental Science, 108, 859–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coleman, J. (1969). ‘Severe emotional disturbance associated with physical illness. 1. Double-blind study.’ Psychosomatics, 10, 32–5.Google Scholar
Edwards, A. L. (1954). Statistical Methods for the Behavioural Sciences, New York.Google Scholar
Garry, J. W., and Leonard, T. J. (1963). ‘Trial of amitriptyline in chronic depression.’ British Journal Psychiatry, 109, 54–5.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Green, D. M. (1964). ‘Pre-existing conditions, placebo reactions and side-effects.’ Annals of Internal Medicine, 60, 255–65.Google Scholar
Haider, I. (1967). ‘A comparative trial of Ro 4–6270 and in depressive illness.’ British Journal of Psychiatry, 113, 993–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hornig, J., and Visram, S. (1964). ‘Amitriptyline versus imipramine in depressive psychoses.’ British Journal of Psychiatry, 110, 840–5.Google Scholar
Medical Research Council (1950). ‘Clinical Trial of anti-histaminic drugs in prevention and treatment of the common cold.’ British Medical Journal, ii, 425–9.Google Scholar
Porter, A. M. W. (1970). ‘Depressive illness in a general practice. A demographic study and a controlled trial of imipramine.’ British Medical Journal, i, 773–8.Google Scholar
Siegel, S. (1956). Non-parametric Statistics for the Behavioural Sciences. New York.Google Scholar
Skarbek, A., and Smedburg, G. D. (1962) ‘Amitriptyline in depressive states: a controlled trial.’ Journal of Mental Science, 108, 711–30.Google Scholar
Wilson, G. M. (1966). ‘Ill-health due to drugs.’ British Medical Journal, i, 1065–9.Google Scholar
Wolf, S. (1950). ‘Effects of suggestion and conditioning on the action of chemical agents in human subjects—the pharmacology of placebos.’ Journal of Clinical Investigation, 29, 100–9.Google Scholar
Submit a response

eLetters

No eLetters have been published for this article.