[Therapeutic effects of tianeptine in patients with depression and anxiety disorders with or without associated alcoholism].

Tianeptine is a new tricyclic antidepressant. Double blind studies comparing tianeptine with imipramine and amitriptyline have shown the effectiveness of tianeptine's antidepressor action, its properties of non-specific symptoms related to behaviour disorders (anxiety, inhibition ...) and its action on somatic complaints expressed by depressed patients. Tianeptine is an effective antidepressant in cases of depression with anxiety or alcoholism and also leads to good therapeutic response in cases of dysthemia. In depressions with melancholy and endogenous criteria, the expected percentage of responding patients has been observed with tianeptine. A reinforcement of the therapeutic effect has been demonstrated after 6 months of treatment. Its excellent clinical and parclinical acceptability, especially in long term treatment of patients at risk such as elderly depressed patients or alcoholic patients, makes tianeptine a first intention antidepressant.