Differential effect of amitriptyline and bupropion on primary and secondary depression: a pilot study.

In a prospective, controlled, double-blind study, 37 patients with major depressive disorder were subclassified into primary depression (N = 25) and secondary (N = 12) depression and treated with either amitriptyline (primary depressives N = 13, secondary depressives N = 6) or bupropion (primary depressives N = 12, secondary depressives N = 6). A differential response to the novel antidepressant bupropion was observed between the two diagnostic subgroups, but no differential response to amitriptyline was observed; patients with primary depression and secondary depression responded equally well to amitriptyline but not to bupropion. Our results provide pharmacological evidence supporting the usefulness of this subclassification of depression.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes