[Therapeutic effect of amoxapine. A pragmatic study]

136 psychiatrists recruited 752 depressed outpatients considered to be a good indication for chemotherapy. Psychiatrists were trained both to diagnosis and to rating scales evaluation. The main features of the depressed syndrome was considered to be anxious in 21%, hostile in 14%, retarded in 12%, agitated in 12%, retarded and anxious in 41%. The symptomatology was present for more than six months in 2/3 of the patients. Among the psychological traits including some difficulties independently from the episode the existence of an aggressivity and/or hyperemotion were the more common (greater than 50%). 60% of the patients also qualified for Generalized Anxiety Disorder. This population was treated by Amoxapine 200 mg/day. Improvement on the MADRS was of 65% after a month of treatment. Tolerance was very good for a tricyclic. Hostility and impulsivity predicted poor response while the existence of a retardation and/or of anxiety or hyperphagia predicted a good response.