Double-blind trial of imipramine in Alzheimer's disease patients with and without depression

Abstract

The authors divided 61 subjects with primary degenerative dementia of the Alzheimer's type into a group who also met DSM-III criteria for depression (N = 28) and a group who did not (N = 33). Both groups were randomly assigned to an 8-week double-blind trial of imipramine or placebo. Scores on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, administered at baseline and weeks 2, 4, 6, and 8, indicated significant improvement in both groups. Two measures of cognitive function yielded differing results. The results suggest that moderate depression is a treatable condition in patients with Alzheimer's disease.