Table 1

Pharmacotherapy Interventions

Medication
Pop
CG
RA
Num*
TSL (days)
Dose
DT (days)
Key Outcome Measures
Article

Nortriptyline
Senior
Y
Y-NE
80/66
216–279
Steady-state plasma level: 50–120 ng/mL
112
Depression (HAM-D); Grief (TRIG)
Reynolds, Miller, et al, 1999**

Senior
Y
Y-NE
27/27
210 (mean)
Steady-state plasma level: 79.9+/-28.3 ng/mL
Daily dose: 70.8+/-22.2 mg
<180
Sleep (PSQI); Depression (HAM-D, BDI)
Taylor, Reynolds, et al, 1999

Senior
Y
NR
30/24
276
Steady-state plasma level: 72.7 ng/mL
Daily dose: 53.0 mg
112
Sleep (PSQI)
Pasternak, Reynolds, et al, 1994

Senior
N
NA
13/13
150–750
Daily dose: 49.2 mg
9–184
Depression (HAM-D, BDI, BSI); Grief (TRIG, JGI); Sleep (PSQI)
Pasternak, Reynolds, et al, 1991
Nortriptyline and Paroxetine
Adult
N
NA
21/15
183–4158
PT Daily dose: 20–50 mg
NT Daily dose: 50–160 mg
120
Depression (HAM-D); Grief (ICG); Sleep (PSQI)
Zygmont, Prigerson, et al, 1998
Desipramine
Adult
N
NA
10/9
NR
Daily dose: 75–150 mg
28
Depression (HDRS, CGI, Raskin DS); Grief (Separation Distress)
Jacobs, Nelson, et al, 1987
Bupropion
Adult
N
NA
22/14
42–56
Daily dose: 150–300 mg
56
Grief (TRIG, ICG); Depression (HAM-D)
Zisook, Schuchter, et al, 2001
Diazepam
Senior
Y
Y
35/30
<14
2 mg/pill, self-administered
<42
Bereavement (BPQ)
Warner, Metcalfe, et al, 2001

Notes: * All Ns are reported as (starting population of bereaved individuals/bereaved population completing all follow-ups), unless only study included only one assessment. ** Study also included psychotherapy condition. Legend: Pop, Target Population; CG, Control Group; RA, Random Assignment; Num, Number of subjects; TSL, Time Since Loss; DT, Duration of Trial; NA, Not Applicable; NR, Not Reported; UC, Unclear; Y, Yes; N, No; Y-NE, Randomization mentioned, but allocation method not explicitly stated; RS, Randomization Subverted.

Forte et al. BMC Palliative Care 2004 3:3   doi:10.1186/1472-684X-3-3