[Blood concentrations of maprotiline in depressive patients]

Blood levels of Maprotiline were analysed and their relationship to the clinical response was examined in 89 depressed inpatients, according DSM III criteria for Major Depressive Episode, given the drug treatment for 3 weeks. Maprotiline produced marked decreases in mean MADRS and COVI scale scores by the end of treatment. On day 21, no correlation between blood levels of Maprotiline and MADRS or COVI scores were found when all patients were considered. Nevertheless, significant correlations were observed on day 14 (r = .22; p less than .05 for MADRS and r = .23; p less than .05 for COVI scale). In addition, a significant correlation between MADRS or COVI scale scores and Maprotiline blood levels were observed on days 14 and 21 in subgroups of young patients, severe depression (high scores to clinical global investigations), during of at least 3 months, treated without other drug than Maprotiline and good responders.