[Preliminary results of a double-blind study between rolipram and desipramine in hospitalized patients with major depressive symptoms].

Rolipram facilitates the postsynaptic neurotransmission of NA through a completely new mechanism of action, namely, an inhibition of the inactivation of the second messenger (the cyclic AMP) by phosphodiesterase. In the present study, Rolipram is compared to a classical tricyclic antidepressant which facilitates the NA transmission through an inhibition of its presynaptic reuptake: Desipramine. Preliminary results on 12 Rolipram patients vs. 9 Desipramine patients indicate that Rolipram has an antidepressant potency comparable to Desipramine with less anticholinergic and hypotensive side effects. This study also illustrates that a 14-factor AMDP profile gives much more information than a single total score such as the Hamilton score.