Daledalin Tosylate: A Controlled Trial in Depressive Illness

Summary

Pharmacological studies of a novel chemical - daledalin tosylate (UK 3557), an indoline compound - suggested the possibility of antidepressant activity with fewer autonomic side-effects in man. A double-blind comparison of daledalin tosylate and amitriptyline hydrochloride as a standard reference antidepressant was carried out in 28 patients with depressive illnesses. Sixteen patients received daledalin tosylate and 12 amitriptyline hydrochloride. The concept of ‘depressive illness’ and the criteria for inclusion in the study are discussed at length.

No statistically significant differences between the two drugs could be found in the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, the Wakefield Self-Assessment Depression Scale, global assessment of severity of illness or change in condition, side-effects check list, or the trend analysis of the laboratory results by linear regression.

It was concluded that daledalin tosylate had antidepressant effects comparable with amitriptyline but no clinical advantages over the latter.

Key words: :

• Antidepressive agents
• daledalin
• amitriptyline
• depression