[The depressive patient before depression]

Abstract

This paper describes five prototypes of depression which develop from different temperamental substrates: timid-inhibited, dysthymic, hyperthymic, cyclothymic and irritable. They correspond, respectively, to anxious depressions, double depressions, anergic depressions, rapid-cycling depressions, and hostile depressions. The author argues that, despite a certain degree of overlap in pharmacologic response, each prototype has a relatively unique profile, including benzodiazepines, MAOIs, SSRIs, TCAs, lithium, low dose neuroleptics and anti-epileptic agents.