title: [DL-phenylalanine as an antidepressant. Open study (author's transl)].
abstract: In an open study dl-phenylalanine in doses from 75--200 mg/day was administered to 20 depressed patients for 20 days. At the end of the trial 12 patients (8 with complete, 4 with good response) could be discharged without any further treatment. 4 patients with partially untypical depressions experienced mild to moderate responses, whereas 4 patients did not respond at all to the phenylalanine administration. Depressive "core symptoms" as depressed mood, retardation and/or agitation were preferentially, anxiety and sleep disturbances moderately and hypochondriasis and compulsiveness were not influenced. It is concluded that dl-phenylalanine might have substantial antidepressant properties and that further controlled investigations are justified.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D010649:Phenylalanine
vernacular_title: DL-Phenylalanin als Antidepressivum (Offene Studie).