Depressive states have long been classified by various dichotomies into reactive versus endogenous, agitated versus retarded and neurotic versus psychotic. The reactive-endogenous dichotomy is an aetiological classification, whereas the agitated-retarded and neurotic-psychotic divisions are symptomatological ones. It is generally considered that there is much correlation between these different classifications, although it is agreed that there may be some overlapping and various points of difference.
Nortriptyline (Allegron, Aventyl) is the demethylated metabolite of amitriptyline. Preliminary trials by Bennett (1962), Oltman et al. (1963) and Leahy et al. (1964) indicated that it might be an effective anti-depressant. Forrest et al. (1964) found that it compared favourably with amitriptyline, a widely used anti-depressant of established efficacy. This investigation also compares nortriptyline with amitriptyline.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.