THE COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF SINGLE AND MULTIPLE DOSES OF RS-8359, MOCLOBEMIDE AND PLACEBO ON PSYCHOMOTOR FUNCTION IN HEALTHY-SUBJECTS

Electro-oculogram (including saccadic eye movements), auditory-evoked potentials and visual analogue scales for a subjective impression of e ffects were used to evaluate some pharmacodynamic properties of RS-835 9. In the electro-oculogram, administration of central nervous system- stimulating drugs is expected to decrease latency and fixation time an d to increase angular velocity. As no significant effect on these para meters was found after any dose of RS-8359, within the limitations of the methods used, it seems unlikely that any appreciable direct stimul ation of the central nervous system occurs with this agent, and signif icant central nervous system side effects also seem unlikely. Moreover , the data on auditory-evoked potentials suggest that RS-8359 may impr ove cognitive performance, which is often impaired in major depressive disorders. However, the doses used in these studies were associated w ith nausea and vomiting, possibly caused by increased serotonergic act ivity secondary to monoamine oxidase A inhibition. The results indicat e that RS-8359 has no apparent sedative liability, which should benefi t patients who need to remain in work, to drive or to continue other a ctivities requiring a normal level of alertness.