COMPARATIVE CLINICAL EXPERIENCE WITH FIVE ANTIDEPRESSANTS
JOHN P. HOLT M.D.,
ELEANORE R. WRIGHT M.D., , and
ARTHUR O. HECKER M.D.1
1 Embreeville State Hospital, Embreeville, Pa.
Based on our results, we feel that all 5 of the antidepressants are effective agents and are generally superior to the amphetamines and phenothiazines in producing remission or relief of primary and secondary symptoms which comprise the depressive syndrome. Generally, the best response to the antidepressants occurs in patients with primary depressive reactions. Most patients with depressive features associated with schizophrenia or organic brain disorders experience significant improvement in depressive symptomatology without experience
No serious complications or side effects were produced by the drugs. Postural hypotension, excessive psychomotor stimulation and aggravation of schizophrenic symptomatology were the most bothersome side effects and it would appear that each drug has a similar capacity to cause these reactions. Neither hemopoietic nor hepatic toxicity was evidenced during our experience with the drugs.
