THE EFFECTS OF BIFEMELANE HYDROCHLORIDE ON DEPRESSIVE-ILLNESS OF THE ELDERLY

The therapeutic efficacy, utility and safety of bifemelane hydrochlori de were studied in 52 elderly depressive patients. The drug was admini stered as a tablet containing 50 mg orally three times daily for 8 con secutive weeks. The final global improvement rating and global utility rating were respectively 80.8 and 73.1 percent for all patients. The improvement rates on the Hamilton depression rating scale (HAM-D) were more than 60% for depressed mood, guilt, suicide, middle insomnia, de layed insomnia, psychotic anxiety, gastro-intestinal symptom, hypochon driasis, depersonalization and derealization. The rates regarding glob al symptoms evaluated by the Psychoneurotic rating scale for doctor's use were more than 60% for tension, agitation, irritability and excite ment, phobia, depression, hypochondria and nocturnal delirium in psych otic symptoms, and insomnia in addition to palpitation in somatic symp toms. A significant decrease was also observed in the symptoms covered by the Self-rating depression scale of Zung after treatment with this drug. There were no instances of side-effects, nor any abnormalities in laboratory tests, encountered throughout the trial. Therefore, bife melane hydrochloride is of value for the treatment of geriatric depres sion.