A statistical review of controlled trials of imipramine and placebo in the treatment of depressive illnesses.

Abstract

A method of reviewing a series of clinical trials by extracting the basic data in the form of 2 x 2 tables and analysing these by Fisher's two-tailed Exact Test is described, and illustrated by published imipramine-placebo trials. The results suggest that the benefit of this drug in patients with endogenous depression who have not become institutionalized is indisputable, and that further drug-placebo trials in this condition are not justified. Two of the three trials of imipramine in neurotic depression gave results showing significant improvement. Possible explanations of the apparent failure of this drug in groups of patients with undifferentiated depression are discussed.

• Authors: S C Rogers, P M Clay
• Journal: The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science (Br J Psychiatry) Vol. 127 Pg. 599-603 (Dec 1975) ISSN: 0007-1250 [Print] England
• PMID: 1104034 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Placebos
• Imipramine

Topics

• Adjustment Disorders (drug therapy)
• Ambulatory Care
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Depression (drug therapy)
• Drug Evaluation
• Hospitalization
• Humans
• Imipramine (therapeutic use)
• Length of Stay
• Placebos