Clinical effects of abrupt withdrawal from tri-cyclic antidepressants and monoamine oxidase inhibitors after long-term treatment.

51 psychiatric outpatients with depressive, anxiety and phobic neuroses were withdrawn from their maintenance treatment with tricyclic antidepressant drugs or the monoamine oxidase inhibitor, phenelzine, at a time mutually agreed between patient and doctor. Self-ratings of anxiety and depression were recorded at the time of withdrawal and at weekly intervals thereafter for 4 weeks. An increase in symptoms after withdrawal was found to be more likely after longer duration of maintenance treatment and in patients taking phenelzine.