ABSTRACT
The paper treats of the data on the treatment of 69 patients with vegetative crises (panic attacks) with amitriptyline and clonazepam by the double blind placebo control method. The efficacy of amitriptyline was 77% versus 42% (placebo); that of clonazepam was 84% versus 35% (placebo). The clinical predictors of the placebo efficacy and of each of the drugs in the treatment of the conditions in question have been established.
Subject(s)
Amitriptyline/therapeutic use , Anxiety Disorders/drug therapy , Autonomic Nervous System Diseases/drug therapy , Clonazepam/therapeutic use , Depressive Disorder/drug therapy , Panic/drug effects , Double-Blind Method , Humans , PlacebosABSTRACT
A study was made of the activity of the cerebral form of glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) in 59 patients suffering from vegetative paroxysms (VP), 8 patients with multiple sclerosis and 15 normal test subjects. As compared to the normal test subjects, the patients with VP manifested higher activity and lability of the enzyme. The patients with VP demonstrating the "labile" and "stable" enzyme were subjected to a clinicopsychological analysis which revealed a graver disease course and more pronounced anxiety in the group with the "stable" enzyme. The role of GDH in the pathogenesis of VP is under discussion.
