Prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of fluoxetine in comparison with amitriptyline in patients with depression

Abstract

Background: Mental disorders are common in medical practice and may present either as a primary disorder or as a comorbid condition. They are a group of disorders characterized by altered regulation of mood, behavior and affect. Depressive disorder ranks top among the mental disorders. Depression is a disorder of public health importance, in terms of its prevalence, morbidity, mortality and economic burden.

Methods: Study was carried out in the outpatient department of psychiatry, Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, after obtaining clearance from Institutional ethical committee, written informed consent was obtained from all the patients. Eighty newly diagnosed patients suffering from depression, attending psychiatric outpatient department were selected after satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were divided into two groups with 40 patients in each group. Group I received amitriptyline (25- 150 mg /day) and group II received fluoxetine (20- 40 mg /day). Efficacy was assessed by measuring the reductions in the total HAM D-Scores (Hamilton depression rating scale) at the end of the study from baseline scores.

Results: The efficacy of two antidepressants was compared and it was found that the incidence of depression was higher among the 20 – 40 years age groups in both the study groups. Females were more in number as compared to males in both the study groups. The efficacy of fluoxetine is comparable to that of Amitriptyline both were equally efficacious in the treatment of depression.

Conclusions: Depression is a disorder of major public health importance, in terms of its prevalence, morbidity, mortality and economic burden. The prevalence of depression is more in women than men. Fluoxetine and amitriptyline were equally efficacious in the treatment of depression.