Effects of iproniazid in depressive syndromes

Abstract

Iproniazid has been found to be of particular value in treating a group of “atypical” depressive illnesses. Some of these patients appeared to be suffering from phobic anxiety states with secondary depression, while others had been regarded as suffering from “anxiety hysteria” or dismissed as being merely “inadequate.” Most, however, had had good previous personalities before the illness started. Iproniazid helped when other therapy, including E.C.T., had failed. In this group the dose of iproniazid for maximal therapeutic response had to be adjusted for each individual patient. Iproniazid was found to have a less rapid and less complete effect in some typical endogenous depressive illnesses. In addition, some cases of recurrent depressive attacks are described in which the patients appear to have had their expected attacks of depression prevented or modified by taking iproniazid regularly over a long period. The value of iproniazid in sometimes preventing relapse into depression again after improvement with E.C.T. is also reported. The complete remission of Raynaud's phenomenon in one woman treated with iproniazid is reported. The toxic effects and dangers of iproniazid are emphasized: it should be used only in persons severely disabled by their illness who are not thought likely to respond to other treatments. © 1959, British Medical Journal Publishing Group. All rights reserved.