[Treatment of depressive and anxiety neurosis with a new psychotropic drug: Nomifensin].

The effect of Nomifensin (Hoechst 36984), a new psychotropic agent different from tricyclics and MAO inhibitors, was studied in patients with depressive-anxiety syndromes. Thirty three patients (22 female, 11 male), average age 40 years, were studied for five weeks in an open trial. The educational and occupational levels of the samples were determined. Follow-up was carried out with Wittenborn Psychiatric Rating Scale, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Zung Self-Rating Scale and PEN Personality Inventory. No other drug was allowed to be taken along with Nomifensin, except for a benzodiazepine derivate in case of disturbed sleep. The average dose was 67 mg/day. The changes in Hamilton and Zung Scales were statistically significant, after the first week of treatment with Nomifensin. Only the N Scale of the PEN showed a a before/after treatment significant difference. The r=0.63 correlation obtained between Zung and Hamilton Scales is discussed. The drug showed to have thymoleptic action within the first week of treatment and an additional on the anxiety symptoms, frequently associated to reactive depressions.