Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
1989-6-8
pubmed:abstractText
We report preliminary findings from an ongoing, open trial of maintenance nortriptyline pharmacotherapy in 27 elderly depressed patients (median trial length: 18 months). While patients were on maintenance nortriptyline (mean dose: 50 mg/day) with steady-state plasma levels in the range of 50-150 ng/ml, 58% of Q-6 monthly ratings on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression have been 10 or lower, Folstein Mini-Mental State ratings have remained above 27, and a minimal level of side effects with no increase over time has been observed. Four of 27 patients (14.8%) have suffered recurrences and have required rehospitalization at 6, 9, 10, and 13 months. Survival analysis showed an 85% survival rate (without recurrence) at 12 months and 81.5% at 18 months. Mean survival time without recurrence is 21.3 months to date. Although our pilot experience with maintenance nortriptyline in late-life depression appears more favorable than outcomes reported in earlier naturalistic studies (where no attempt was made to keep patients in systematic maintenance therapy), the need for controlled studies of maintenance therapies in late-life depression is nonetheless underscored by the current data and other naturalistic data from the United Kingdom.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Mar
pubmed:issn
0165-1781
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
27
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
225-31
pubmed:dateRevised
2008-4-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1989
pubmed:articleTitle
Open-trial maintenance pharmacotherapy in late-life depression: survival analysis.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, PA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Clinical Trial, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.