CONTINUATION AND MAINTENANCE TREATMENTS IN MAJOR DEPRESSION - THE NEGLECTED ROLE OF MONOAMINE-OXIDASE INHIBITORS

The importance of continuation and maintenance antidepressant therapy has been increasingly recognized, but usually focuses on tricyclic and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants. This r eview examines the evidence in support of classical monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) agents and the selective reversible monoamine oxidase type A inhibitor moclobemide in continuation and maintenance therapy. Phenelzine and tranylcypromine have demonstrated long-term efficacy b ut often cause intolerable side effects. Moclobemide is a well-tolerat ed alternative antidepressant, but there is a need for prospective con trolled trials to evaluate its long-term efficacy.