Antidepressant Treatment of Melancholia in Late Life
Completed
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Phase 4
1997-07-01
The purpose of this study is to compare the safety and effectiveness of a select serotonin
re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI, sertraline) and a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA, nortriptyline) in
outpatients over the age of 60 who have major depression.
SSRIs are effective in the treatment of major depression. However, there is also evidence
that SSRIs may be significantly less effective than TCAs for patients with late-life major
depression with melancholia. Since SSRIs seem to be easier to take than TCAs and are more
widely prescribed, it is important to determine which of these types of antidepressants works
best to treat these patients.
Patients will be assigned randomly to receive either sertraline (a SSRI) or nortriptyline (a
TCA) for 12 weeks. Patients will be monitored for symptoms, side effects, and quality of
life. If a patient responds to treatment, he/she will participate in a 6-month continuation
phase in which he/she will continue to receive the same medication.
An individual may be eligible for this study if he/she:
Has unipolar major depression (with some exceptions) and is over 60 years old.
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