Psychological effects of nicardipine and propranolol on hypertensive patients

1 The psychological effects of nicardipine and propranolol were assessed in a group of 30 hypertensive patients who were randomly allocated to treatment with one or other drug. 2 Baseline psychiatric and cognitive assessments were performed after a 4 week placebo washout phase and were repeated after 12 weeks of active drug treatment. 3 Impairments were found in both treatment groups on the Complex Figure Test, which assesses both constructional abilities and the ability to organise complex data. The propranolol group showed a significant increase in performance in the Digit Symbol Substitution Test; this was not seen in the nicardipine group. The nicardipine group reported a decreased sense of proficiency as assessed by a visual analogue scale. 4 In neither treatment group was there detectable impairment in psychiatric well-being or ability to fulfil normal social roles. 5 The interpretation and implications of the findings are discussed.