title: l-Deprenyl in atypical depressives.
abstract: We investigated the antidepressant efficacy of l-deprenyl (selegiline), a selective monoamine oxidase B inhibitor (MAOI), in a six-week open trial of 17 patients with atypical depression. Such patients have previously been shown to benefit from nonselective MAOIs such as phenelzine sulfate. Ten patients (59%) responded to l-deprenyl, but nine required dosages above the 10 to 20 mg/day used in previous investigations. l-Deprenyl was superior to six weeks of placebo administered to diagnostically similar patients in a separate double-blind study. In contrast with previous findings with pheneizine, responders to l-deprenyl differed from nonresponders by having lower baseline anxiety ratings. Even at high dosages, there appeared to be fewer side effects with l-deprenyl than with nonselective MAOIs.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D003913:Dextroamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010624:Phenelzine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010627:Phenethylamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012642:Selegiline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010627:Phenethylamines; D010919:Placebos; D012642:Selegiline; D010624:Phenelzine; D003913:Dextroamphetamine