No antidepressant effect of biperiden compared with placebo in depression: a double-blind 6-week clinical trial.
Publication/Presentation Date
9-29-1995
Abstract
Depression may result from an increased ratio of cholinergic to aminergic central neurotransmission. The effect of centrally active anticholinergic agents on depressive ratings in depressed patients, however, has not been well studied. In a previous open label 4-week clinical trial, Kasper et al. (1981) reported that biperiden (Akineton) had antidepressant effects in depressed patients. We compared the effects of placebo and biperiden in a randomized, double-blind, parallel-design 6-week study. All patients received placebo for the first week and then received either biperiden (< or = 12 mg/day) or a peripherally acting anticholinergic agent, glycopyrrolate (Robinul, 1 mg/day) for 4 weeks. All patients received placebo during week 6. Both groups significantly improved, but biperiden did not demonstrate any significant benefit compared with glycopyrrolate. In a subgroup of patients receiving biperiden, the percentage of rapid eye movement sleep was significantly decreased only in the first week of biperiden compared with the initial placebo week, suggesting that tolerance to the central effects of biperiden developed. Further studies would be needed to determine whether anticholinergic agents possess antidepressant properties.
Volume
58
Issue
2
First Page
99
Last Page
105
ISSN
0165-1781
Published In/Presented At
Gillin, J. C., Lauriello, J., Kelsoe, J. R., Rapaport, M., Golshan, S., Kenny, W. M., & Sutton, L. (1995). No antidepressant effect of biperiden compared with placebo in depression: a double-blind 6-week clinical trial. Psychiatry research, 58(2), 99–105. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-1781(95)02700-7
Disciplines
Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
PubMedID
8570773
Department(s)
Administration and Leadership
Document Type
Article