Twenty-one depressed patients with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD)
were randomized to receive a 6-week treatment with clomipramine or placebo
in a study with a double-blind crossover design. Main outcome measures were
Hamilton Depression, Mini-Mental State (MMSE), and Functional Independence
Measure (FIM) scores. Mood improved significantly on both clomipramine and
placebo, but clomipramine was significantly more effective than placebo
during the first 6-week treatment period. Patients started on clomipramine
maintained improvement during the washout and placebo periods, whereas
patients started on placebo worsened during the washout period. However,
patients on clomipramine showed significantly lower MMSE scores overall
than patients on placebo. No significant drug effects were found on FIM
scores. Clomipramine proved to be a useful treatment of depression in
patients with probable AD.Abstract Teaser