A total of 115 elderly patients (60-85 years of age) with DSM III diagnosis of major depressive episode were randomly assigned to 6 weeks of treatment with either mirtazapine, 15-45 mg/day, or amitriptyline, 30-90 mg/day. Efficacy was assessed biweekly, using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) as primary outcome variables. The treatment with both drugs resulted in a similar reduction of total HRDS and MADRS scores, with no statistically significant differences between treatment groups at any assessment point or at endpoint. Statistically significant differences favouring amitriptyline were present according to CGI-Global Improvement Scale at endpoint, HRDS cognitive disturbance factor at weeks 2, 4 and 6 and endpoint and retardation factor at week 6. Adverse events were reported by a similar number of patients in both treatment groups. Additional research is needed to assess further the efficacy and tolerability of mirtazapine among elderly depressed patients.

Fifty-seven hospital out-patients with depressive symptoms were studied in a double-blind manner for up to 4 weeks, 30 whilst being treated with intramuscular flupenthixol decanoate (5 to 10 mg/fortnight) and 27 with oral amitriptyline (75 to 150 mg/day). The results of assessment using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, the Leeds Self-Rating Scale for Depression and the Clinical Global Impressions severity scale showed that both therapies were effective in resolving depression in the patients studied. The two treatments were well tolerated and side-effect profiles were similar, dry mouth, faintness/dizziness and drowsiness being the most frequently reported adverse events. Extrapyramidal signs were seen in similar numbers of patients in each treatment group. One patient from each of the two groups was withdrawn from therapy before the end of the study because of adverse events.

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