title: Relationship between response to phenelzine and MAO inhibition in a clinical trial of phenelzine, amitriptyline and placebo.
abstract: This report examines the hypothesis that for phenelzine to be more effective than placebo it is necessary to achieve at least 80% inhibition of platelet MAO activity. This hypothesis was examined in the context of a double-blind comparison of phenelzine, amitriptyline and placebo in depressed patients. When phenelzine became significantly more effective than placebo at 4 weeks, the average MAO inhibition was 85%. By the 5th week, with MAO inhibition greater than 90%, phenelzine was significantly more effective than amitriptyline. A highly significant correlation was noted between improvement and MAO inhibition within the phenelzine group.
mesh_terms: D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000201:enzymology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000097:blood*; D010624:Phenelzine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
chemical_list: D000639:Amitriptyline; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase; D010624:Phenelzine