[Clomipramine and other serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the treatment of depressed mood, anxiety and impaired impulse control].

The antidepressive effects of substances which most likely increase the rate of monoaminergic neurotransmission by the antagonization of the serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors has been know to exist for over thirty years. The role of both of these substances, serotonin and noradrenaline, in the function of these mechanisms is still, however, a matter of discussion. In the last ten years it has been shown that many antidepressive drugs are not only effective in the treatment of depression but also in the treatment of many other psychiatric disorders. These include for example panic anxiety attacks, compulsive-obsessive symptoms, premenstrual tension disorder etc. It appears from the treatment of these disorders that serotonin is of greater importance than noradrenaline.