Response of postpsychotic depression to adjunctive imipramine or amitriptyline

Case histories were reviewed of 25 patients with RDC diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who developed a clinical syndrome of depression subsequent to the resolution of their psychotic episodes. Of these patients, 14 were then treated with imipramine and 11 with amitriptyline in addition to their neuroleptic drugs. As a group, the patients did well--48% had a remission of depressive symptoms and an additional 32% improved. Psychotic exacerbation was noted in only one patient. Imipramine seemed more beneficial than amitriptyline in these patients.