Depression--an analysis of a follow-up study.

Abstract

The year 1957 heralded a significant advance in the treatment of depressive states. It was then that Loomeret al.(1957), and Crane (1957), published their findings on the use of iproniazid, and Kuhn (1957), published his findings on the use of imipramine. Iproniazid was the first of a series of monoamine oxidase inhibitors which were rapidly developed and used in the treatment of depressive states. In the last few years, their use, especially in “endogenous” depression, has been eclipsed by the iminodibenzyl derivatives; first imipramine, then amitriptyline and later the demethylated derivatives, desipramine and nortriptyline. However, the later monoamine oxidase inhibitors are still widely used, especially in “reactive” depression and some neurotic states.