Normal male volunteers took single acute doses of either diazepam or placebo under double-blind conditions in three simulated public speaking experiments. Measures of palmar sweating and subjective anxiety showed that anticipation of speaking in public increased anxiety relative to baseline and prestress conditions, and performance of public speaking further increased anxiety. A dose-related anxiolytic effect of diazepam on subjective anxiety supported the model's clinical relevance. Moreover, the intensity of the subject's public speaking phobia predicted both degree of prestress anxiety relief from 10 mg diazepam and overall anxiety level, regardless of medication, throughout the experimental session. A measure of traditionalism predicted placebo and 5 mg diazepam response during prestress: As in previous clinical trials, high traditionalism scorers reported more relief from placebo, whereas low scorers showed more relief from diazepam.

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Speed of onset of antidepressant effect was studied in 20 depressed outpatients assigned double-blind to equipotent doses of amoxapine or amitriptyline. In counter-balanced order, each patient had 2 periods of 3 weeks on active agent interspersed with 2 similar periods of placebo control. On daily and weekly self-ratings, amoxapine was found to reduce symptoms significantly more rapidly than amitriptyline. Psychiatrist-ratings were consonant with self-reports.

Cognitive effects of brief antidepressant treatments were studied in depressed outpatients assigned double-blind to equipotent doses of amoxapine or amitriptyline in a 12-week double-crossover of 3-week periods of active agent and placebo. The two drugs had different profiles of effects: amitriptyline was associated with faster reaction time on tests of attention and immediate memory, reduced accuracy on an attention task, and impaired long-term memory (after 1 but not 3 weeks); amoxapine slowed performance and increased intraperson variability on a psychomotor coordination task. Amitriptyline facilitated performance in the more depressed patients, and amoxapine in the older patients. Both agents also increased pulse rate and reduced palmar sweating.

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