Am J Psychiatry 1985; 142:486-488
Copyright © 1985 by American Psychiatric Association
Response to phenelzine among depressed patients with features of hysteroid dysphoria
A Kayser, DS Robinson, A Nies and D Howard
A 21-item questionnaire eliciting features of hysteroid dysphoria was
administered to 51 depressed outpatients. Of the 47 patients who completed
a 6-week double-blind study comparing the efficacy of amitriptyline and
phenelzine, 14 had questionnaire scores greater than or equal to 13 (high
score) and 33 had scores less than 13 (low score). Nine of nine high-score
patients responded to phenelzine; only three of five high-score patients
responded to amitriptyline. Low-score patients responded equally well to
either drug (79% improved). These findings suggest that some depressed
patients have features of hysteroid dysphoria and that these patients
respond preferentially to phenelzine.
