Comparative Trial of a New Mono-Amine Oxidase Inhibitor in Depression

The use of mono-amine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) entails the risk of hypertensive crises with various foodstuffs and other drugs. On the other hand, the tricyclic antidepressants have a slow onset of action, and this may be a serious disadvantage in a condition like acute depression where there is always a danger of suicide. The use of an MAOI can therefore be justified if it is shown to be more effective than the tricyclic compounds.