Abstract: AIM: To investigate the effects of fluoxetine on the changes of depression-related disturbances in energy.METHODS: 55 patients with depression were randomly assigned to two groups:fluoxetine group (n=29) treated with 20 mg·d^-1 fluoxetine, po, qd, and amitriptyline group (n=26) treated with 150 mg·d^-1 amitriptyline, po, bid.Two groups were observed for 6 weeks.According to the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (H AMD) retardation factor score, these patients were categorized as low (score <8) or high (score>or=8) levels of retardation at baseline.HAMD retardation factor score (total of items 1:depressed mood, 7:work and activity, 8:retardation, 13:somatic general symptoms and 14:urogenital symptoms) andHopkins Symptom Checklist 58 (HSCL-58) energy-related items (including item 14:feeling low in energy or slowed down, 32:feeling no interest in things, 55:absorption in the difficulty) was used as the primary measure of the improvement of energy.RESULTS: 6 weeks after treatment, HAMD total scores, retardation factor score and SCL-58 energe-related items scores decreased more significantly in fluoxetine group than that in amitriptylined group (P <0.05) after 1-2 weeks treatment.No significant difference of efficacy was found between high and low level of retardation in fluoxetine group, but the efficacy of high levels of retardation was less than that of low levels (P <0.05) in amitriptyline group.Compared to amitriptyline-treated subgroup, the efficacy level of fluoxetine-treated high levels of retardation subgroup was higher (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: Fluoxetine can significantly improve the depression-related disturbances in energy, and it is more suitable for the patients with the higher levels of HAMD retardation factor score.

Key words: clinical trial, fluoxetine, amitriptyline, depression, changes in energy