[Controlled double-blind study (SAMe-imipramine) in depressive syndromes]

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 2, 2026

The Forced Swim Test as a Model of Depressive-like Behavior
05:42

The Forced Swim Test as a Model of Depressive-like Behavior

Published on: March 2, 2015

M Mantero, P Pastorino, A Carolei

    Minerva Medica
    |November 17, 1975
    PubMed

    Insights

    S-Adenosylmethionine and Imipramine showed similar efficacy in a three-week clinical trial. While Hamilton Rating scores revealed no significant differences, slight improvements favored S-Adenosylmethionine in treating patients.

    Area of Science:

    • Psychiatry and Pharmacology
    • Clinical Neuroscience

    Background:

    • Depression is a significant global health concern.
    • Pharmacological interventions are crucial for managing depressive symptoms.
    • S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and Imipramine are established treatments.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To compare the efficacy of S-Adenosylmethionine and Imipramine.
    • To evaluate treatment outcomes in a double-blind clinical trial.

    Main Methods:

    • A double-blind clinical trial involving 31 patients.
    • Treatment with S-Adenosylmethionine (25 mg i.m. thrice daily) or Imipramine (25 mg i.m. thrice daily).
    • Administration for a duration of three weeks.

    Main Results:

    • No statistically significant differences in Hamilton Rating scores between the two treatment groups.
    • A trend favoring S-Adenosylmethionine was observed in the slight differences noted.
    • Both treatments were administered over a three-week period.

    Conclusions:

    • S-Adenosylmethionine and Imipramine demonstrate comparable efficacy in this short-term trial.
    • S-Adenosylmethionine may offer a potential alternative treatment for depression.
    • Further research is warranted to explore long-term effects and broader applications.

    More Related Videos

    MRI-guided dmPFC-rTMS as a Treatment for Treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder08:20

    MRI-guided dmPFC-rTMS as a Treatment for Treatment-resistant Major Depressive Disorder

    Published on: August 11, 2015

    Protocol for Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation with Symptom Provocation to Treat Obsessive-compulsive Disorder11:17

    Protocol for Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation with Symptom Provocation to Treat Obsessive-compulsive Disorder

    Published on: November 25, 2025

    Related Concept Videos

    The Placebo Effect01:54

    The Placebo Effect

    The placebo effect occurs when people's expectations or beliefs influence or determine their experience in a given situation. In other words, simply expecting something to happen can actually make it happen.
    Blind Procedures02:07

    Blind Procedures

    Ideally, the people who observe and record the children’s behavior are unaware of who was assigned to the experimental or control group, in order to control for experimenter bias. Experimenter bias refers to the possibility that a researcher’s expectations might skew the results of the study. Remember, conducting an experiment requires a lot of planning, and the people involved in the research project have a vested interest in supporting their hypotheses. If the observers knew which child was...
    Blinding01:11

    Blinding

    Blinding is a commonly used method of not telling participants which treatment a subject is receiving. Blinding is a critical part of a randomized control trial or RCT. It reduces the bias that affects the results. In an RCT, blinding is used in the form of a placebo. A placebo effect occurs when untreated subjects falsely believe they have received the treatment and report improved symptoms. A placebo or a dummy treatment is administered to subjects to negate the bias caused by such an effect.
    Antidepressant Drugs: Overview01:25

    Antidepressant Drugs: Overview

    Antidepressant drugs are a class of medications primarily used for treating various mood disorders, including major depression, anxiety disorders, and other related conditions. These medicines work by modulating the neurotransmitter balance within the brain, alleviating depressive symptoms. Antidepressants can be broadly categorized into several groups according to their mechanism of action and chemical structure: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Serotonin-Norepinephrine...
    Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs01:28

    Antidepressant Drugs: Tricyclics, SSRIs, and SNRIs

    Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs), including Desipramine (Norpramin), Imipramine (Tofranil), Clomipramine (Anafranil), and Amitriptyline (Elavil), inhibit serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake and also block other receptors. They are used for depression, pain conditions, and insomnia. Common adverse effects include anticholinergic effects, sedation, orthostatic hypotension, and weight gain. They have a narrow therapeutic window and so require plasma-level monitoring. Abrupt discontinuation can...
    Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents01:23

    Antidepressant Drugs: MAOIs and Other Agents

    Atypical antidepressants, including bupropion (Wellbutrin), mirtazapine (Remeron), nefazodone (Serzone), trazodone (Desyrel), and vilazodone (Viibryd), offer unique mechanisms of action. Bupropion weakly inhibits dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake, aiding depression treatment and smoking cessation, with a low risk of sexual dysfunction. Mirtazapine enhances serotonin and norepinephrine neurotransmission, leading to sedation, increased appetite, and weight gain. As a result, it helps treat...