The value of amineptine in depressed patients treated with cognitive behavioural psychotherapy

The aim of this double-blind placebo-controlled trial was to evaluate the value of the prescription of an antidepressant treatment, amineptine, in 100 patients treated with cognitive behavioural therapy. The patients fulfilled DSM-III-R criteria for major depression or bipolar disorder (depressed) without psychotic features. The total duration of the study was 6 weeks. The patients received either amineptine (200 mg/day) or placebo for 42 days. Besides this drug therapy, patients had psychotherapeutic intervention: regular sessions of cognitive behavioural therapy. The criteria for evaluation of efficacy were both the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the Clinical Global Impression (CGI). Significantly better results were obtained in the group of patients treated with amineptine and psychotherapy versus those obtained in the group receiving placebo and psychotherapy, on both the HDRS and CGI. The overall acceptability was good in both groups of patients. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.