Intravenous maprotiline in severe and resistant primary depression: a double-blind comparison with clomipramine

A double-blind, randomized trial is described which was designed to compare the clinical effect of 100 mg daily of maprotiline (Ludiomil) and of clomipramine (Anafranil) given by the intravenous route in forty hospitalized female patients with severe and resistant primary depression. Physicians' assessment of patients' progress was made following 5, 9 and 21 days of treatment. The response rates to maprotiline and clomipramine were not significantly different even if a greater number of patients responded to clomipramine. None of the demographic and clinical variables considered could be identified as factor predicting the response to maprotiline and to clomipramine, even if a trend for a preferential responsiveness to clomipramine in the older patients was observed.