A multicentre comparative trial of moclobemide, imipramine and placebo in major depressive disorder. UK Moclobemide Study Group.

The reversible, selective monoamine oxidase A inhibitor moclobemide (450 mg daily) was compared with imipramine (150 mg daily) and placebo in a multicentre, controlled clinical trial lasting 6 weeks. Two hundred and forty-nine patients participated, with a major depressive episode according to DSM-III criteria, and whose initial Hamilton Depression Scale rating (HDRS) was at least 17. Clinical improvement, as determined by HDRS, was similar in the three treatment groups: 53% of the evaluable patients in the moclobemide group responded (i.e. a 50% reduction in HDRS), compared with 50% on imipramine and 51% on placebo. Tolerability was least on imipramine, largely due to the high frequency of anticholinergic side effects; moclobemide showed no difference from placebo in this respect.