The discovery of antidepressant drugs by computer-analyzed human cerebral bio-electrical potentials (CEEG)

Abstract

Antidepressant properties of six compounds were predicted based on their computer-analyzed human electroencephalographical (CEEG) profiles. The clinical investigations with mianserin (GB94) confirmed the CEEG prediction. This compound has now been marketed as the first antidepressant of which the clinical effects were discovered solely by the quantitative pharmaco- EEG method. As predicted by the CEEG, clinical antidepressant properties of GC-46, mesterolone, and estradiol valerate were observed in preliminary investigations. No extensive studies with definite statistical results were yet carried out with these compounds. No systematic large studies could be conducted with cyclozocine and cyproterone acetate because of the intolerable side effects with these compounds. The optical isomers of mianserin, GF-59 and GF-60, both predicted as antidepressant by the computer EEG data base, have not yet been tested in depressive patients. None of these compounds possess the “typical” pharmacological and/or biochemical profiles of marketed antidepressants. Thus, the discovery of the established antidepressant properties of mianserin (GB-94) by computer analyzed EEG method challenges the well-known biochemical hypotheses of depression and the “classical” development of antidepressant drugs.