Moclobemide (Ro 11-1163) versus desipramine in the treatment of endogenous depression.

Moclobemide was compared with desipramine in 30 patients with endogenous depression. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression showed significantly greater improvement for moclobemide (69%) than for desipramine (45%). The final assessment of tolerance was good or very good in 87% of moclobemide patients compared with 13% of desipramine patients; 5 patients in the first group and all 15 in the second group complained of adverse effects. One patient on moclobemide and 5 on desipramine stopped treatment prematurely because of poor tolerance; no patients stopped treatment because of lack of efficacy. Assessment in this study was made difficult by concomitant treatment with benzodiazepines and/or mild neuroleptics in both groups, but the results of efficacy and tolerance clearly favour moclobemide over desipramine in the treatment of endogenous depression in hospitalized patients.