Platelet 3H-imipramine binding sites in depressed patients and healthy controls: a comparison between morning and afternoon samples.

Platelet 3H-imipramine binding was compared between 19 hospitalized, depressed patients and age-matched controls (n = 11). For each individual person blood samples were withdrawn at 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on two separate occasions (day 0 and day 28). Mean Bmax and Kd values did not differ between depressed patients and healthy controls at any of the four time-points tested, and no significant differences could be established between the different time-points, though there were irregular intraindividual variations.

Befuraline, its safety and efficacy in depressed inpatients.

Befuraline, a new antidepressant drug, was studied in twenty-nine inpatients with unipolar endogenous depression. The evaluation of patients' condition was made on four different study periods by two assessors using the HDRS, the Beck depression inventory and von Zerssen depression scale. Befuraline, given in oral doses of between 100 and 300 mg/day improved the HDRS total score and the cognitive disturbances to a significant extent (p less than 0.01) after the first week of the treatment. Eleven patients withdrew from the study most of them as a result of intolerance to the stimulatory properties of the drug, however, the response was considered satisfactory in 12 of the 29 patients (41%) mostly in the "retarded depressed" class. As Befuraline proved to be well tolerated, it was continued on an outpatient basis in 11 patients, confirming the absence of clinically important untoward effects.

3H-Imipramine binding sites in platelets of hospitalized psychiatric patients.

The density of platelet 3H-imipramine binding sites has been proposed as a biological marker in psychiatry. We report the range of platelet 3H-imipramine binding in 55 psychiatric patients and 11 control subjects. All blood samples were withdrawn at 2300 h (on the day of hospital admission for patients). With the use of a slight modification of a previously described 3H-imipramine binding method, a mean B max of 1,510 fmole/mg protein (range: 390-5,560; median: 1,450) and a mean Kd of 2.0 nM (range: 0.6-17.0; median: 1.4) were determined for psychiatric patients. For the controls, a mean B max of 1,590 fmole/mg protein (range: 870-2,570; median: 1,440) and a mean Kd of 1.4 nM (range 0.8-2.4; median 1.4) were determined. When patients were subdivided based on ICD-9 psychiatric diagnoses, no significant differences between distinct subgroups of psychiatric patients with respect to B max or Kd values for platelet 3H-imipramine binding could be established. Similarly, no significant difference between psychiatric patients and controls was obtained.

Preliminary studies with citalopram (LU 10-171), a specific 5-HT-reuptake inhibitor, as antidepressant.

1. Ten hospitalized, depressive, female patients above the age of 50 have been treated in a 3 week open trial with citalopram, a specific 5-HT-uptake inhibitor. 2. Six full and two partial responders demonstrate a recovery rate within the well known range for tricyclic antidepressant drugs. 3. Early onset of clinical effect and minimal side effects indicate that citalopram is possible a new effective antidepressant.

Driving ability of depressive patients under antidepressants.

A group of twenty depressive patients was compared during a 3-4 month course of antidepressant therapy (Maprotiline: n = 6, age = 46.1; dibenzepin: n = 4, age = 43.0; lithium: n = 6, age = 44.5; "mixed" (maprotiline, dibenzepin trimeprimine): n = 4, age = 50.2) with a healthy control group (n = 32, age = 38.2) for subjective assessment of their depressive mood and performance as well as objective measurement of variables relating to driving behaviour. The measurements were taken 2-4 weeks after a pre-treatment period (day 1) and after 2-3 months of further therapy (day 2). During therapy, all patients felt "less depressive" and "more capable" in subjective terms. All patient groups made learning progress in the objectively measured variables (psychomotor co-ordination and attentiveness tests). By day 2, the patient groups had almost reached the performance level of the control group, providing they received antidepressant therapy (regardless of the action profile) which was suitable for the basic disorder and the symptoms, and therapy was successful in the opinion of the physician. It may be concluded that depressive patients, assuming suitable antidepressant treatment and good response, are capable of driving while under maintenance therapy.