Nortriptyline versus fluoxetine in the treatment of major depressive disorder: a six-month, double-blind clinical trial

Figures & data

Figure 1 Comparison of mean Beck depression scores for patients referred to Yasuj Psychiatry Clinic according to treatment allocation.

Table 1 Baseline data for fluoxetine and nortriptyline groups

	Nortriptyline group	Fluoxetine group
Female	25	26
Male	24	22
Age (mean ± standard deviation)	34.5 ± 15.50	35.1 ± 14.80
Mean depression score before intervention	32.85 ± 6.23	33.12 ± 6.50

Table 2 Comparison of mean Beck depression scores according to age before and after 3 and 6 months of treatment with fluoxetine or nortriptyline

Age, years	n	Nortriptyline			n	Fluoxetine
		Month 0	Month 3	Month 6		Month 0	Month 3	Month 6
<20	6	31.83 ± 2.11	24.12 ± 3.67	19.30 ± 2.01	5	32.60 ± 2.8 1	19.60 ± 1.96	15.40 ± 2.05
20–30	22	33.40 ± 4.92	23.18 ± 4.10	19.72 ± 4.31	25	33.32 ± 4.21	19.04 ± 3.30	16.20 ± 4.11
30–40	14	32.21 ± 3.83	23.22 ± 3.78	19.50 ± 3.12	12	33.08 ± 3.90	19.91 ± 2.15	16.30 ± 3.27
>40	7	32.31 ± 2.95	23.42 ± 2.90	19.85 ± 1.78	6	32.33 ± 3.01	19.10 ± 1.98	15.60 ± 3.94
All ages	49	32.85 ± 6.23	23.65 ± 4.48	19.71 ± 4.21	48	33.12 ± 6.50	19.37 ± 3.96	16.16 ± 4.02

Note: Analysis of variance P > 0.05.

Table 3 Comparison of mean Beck depression scores according to gender before and after 3 and 6 months of treatment with fluoxetine or nortriptyline

Gender	n	Nortriptyline			n	Fluoxetine
		Month 0	Month 3	Month 6		Month 0	Month 3	Month 6
Female	25	33.05 ± 6.68	24.43 ± 5.21	19.90 ± 4.40	26	32.70 ± 6.93	18.93 ± 4.11	16.34 ± 5.01
Male	24	32.63 ± 5.00	23.30 ± 4.17	19.56 ± 3.35	22	33.40 ± 5.81	19.41 ± 3.24	15.90 ± 3.49
All level	49	32.85 ± 6.23	23.65 ± 4.48	19.71 ± 4.21	48	33.12 ± 6.5	19.37 ± 3.96	16.16 ± 4.02

Table 4 Comparison of mean Beck depression scores based on educational level before and after 3 and 6 months of treatment with fluoxetine or nortriptyline

Educational level	n	Nortriptyline			n	Fluoxetine
		Month 0	Month 3	Month 6		Month 0	Month 3	Month 6
Not educated	21	33.10 ± 6.99	24.10 ± 4.21	19.90 ± 4.40	20	32.65 ± 2.93	19.03 ± 3.11	16.24 ± 4.01
Low educated	16	32.80 ± 5.00	23.50 ± 4.67	19.06 ± 4.35	17	33.40 ± 2.91	19.91 ± 4.34	15.90 ± 4.29
High educated	12	32.33 ± 5.76	23.31 ± 4.24	19.52 ± 3.97	11	32.90 ± 2.45	19.80 ± 3.99	16.02 ± 3.98
All levels	49	32.85 ± 6.23	23.65 ± 4.48	19.71 ± 4.21	48	33.12 ± 6.50	19.37 ± 3.96	16.16 ± 4.02

Table 5 Mean Beck scores for depressed patients referring to Yasuj Psychiatric Clinic, Iran, by time and kind of treatment

	Month 0	Month 3	Month 6	Total decrease after 6 months
Nortriptyline	32.85 ± 6.23**	23.65 ± 4.48	19.71 ± 4.21	13.14 ± 4.68
Fluoxetine	33.12 ± 6.50	19.37 ± 3.96	16.16 ± 4.02	16.96 ± 4.96
Significance (t-test)	P > 0.05	P < 0.05	P < 0.05	–

Note:

** Mean ± standard deviation.

Table 6 Mean percent frequency of treatment-emergent adverse events

			Significance (χ^2 test)
Headache	24 (48.9)	17 (35.4)	0.026
Dizziness	18 (36.7)	8 (16.3)	0.018
Constipation	13 (26.5)	2 (4.2)	0.016
Drowsiness	15 (30.6)	4 (8.3)	0.005
Weakness	25 (51.0)	11 (22.9)	0.01
Dry mouth	1 (2.1)	3 (6.3)	0.17
Aggression	25 (51.0)	4 (8.3)	0.001
Hypersomnia	14 (28.6)	12 (25.0)	0.39
Nausea, vomiting	0 (0)	17 (35.4)	0.045
Anorexia	16 (33.3)	17 (35.4)	0.45

Note: All numbers are written as frequency (%).

Table 7 Satisfaction profile for nortriptyline and fluoxetine in depressed patients referred to Yasuj Psychiatry Clinic, Iran

Satisfaction	Dissatisfied	Partially satisfied	Satisfied	Total
Drug
Nortriptyline	9 (18.4)	33 (67.3)	7 (14.3)	49 (100)
Fluoxetine	5 (10.4)	22 (45.8)	21 (43.75)	48 (100)

Notes: χ² = 15.2; DF = 3; P < 0.012; all numbers are written as frequency (%).