[Respective position of antidepressants in therapeutics (author's transl)].

The author points out the heterogeneity of depressions and antidepressants. He stresses the need of finding predictive indicators of antidepressant activity. Genetic, "demographic", biological, biochemical and pharmacokinetic factors can help to guide antidepressant's prescription. Urinary MHPG dosage seems to be one of the most interesting in this field.