COMBINATION THERAPY USING MOCLOBEMIDE WITH TRICYCLIC AND TETRACYCLIC ANTIDEPRESSANTS TO TREAT THERAPY-RESISTANT DEPRESSION

In an open trial, a combination therapy with 300 mg moclobemide was in stituted after adjustment to a classical tricyclic or tetracyclic anti depressant in a group of 23 previously therapy-resistant depressive in patients (pretreatment with two biochemically different antidepressant s over a period of at least 5 weeks with sufficient doses). In 13 pati ents (53.9%) a significant improvement on the Hamilton Depression Scal e (24-item version) of at least 50% was achieved. The improvement in t he BPRS was also significant. On the basis of the present findings, a combination therapy with the reversible MAO-inhibitor moclobemide repr esents an efficacious regimen for therapy-resistant depressions, with low side-effects. After this pilot study, further controlled studies a re necessary.