Effects of tianeptine on attention, memory and psychomotor performances using neuropsychological methods in young healthy volunteers

Abstract

SummaryA study was performed in young healthy volunteers in order to test the possible action of tianeptine, a new antidepressant drug, on cognitive performances. Attention tests, memory tests, a non-verbal inductive reasoning test and a sleep questionnaire were used in this double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study. The two one-week drug administration periods were separated by a one-week wash-out period. The methodology permitted us to evaluate the learning effect during the familiarization with the tests and to clear the results of the study from this parameter which could possibly distort analysis. For this large range of tests, the results showed that tianeptine did not affect the level of functioning of the volunteers after their familiarization with the tests. These results are in contrast with those obtained by different authors with classical tricyclic antidepressants.

Contribution of sleep research to the development of new antidepressants

“…54 Moreover, a study in young HCs found no effect on EEG sleep parameters at therapeutic dosages (37.5 mg/day). 55 The same study found improvement in sleep with tianeptine using the subjective Leeds sleep evaluation questionnaire.…”