Moclobemide in winter depression: Some preliminary results from an open trial

Abstract

Five women with winter depression, as part of seasonal affective disorder, aged 30 to 58 years, were given the selective MAO-A inhibitor moclobemide, 400 mg daily, for 4 weeks, beginning in February 1991. The mean total score on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale was reduced from 24.6 at base line to 16.4 after 1 week (significant) and 5.0 after 4 weeks. Although this was an open trial and was performed in the second half of the usual period of winter depression, the marked and uniform improvement seems to indicate a satisfactory effect of moclobemide. There were very few treatment-emergent side effects.