[Indications for therapy using MAO inhibitors]

Abstract

The MAOIs have been an underutilized and overly feared class of medical compounds potentially useful for a wide spectrum of disorders. At one end of the spectrum they have been found effective for several anxiety disorders, especially when phobic or panic reactions are part of the symptoms. At the other end of the spectrum, they are effective in patients with melancholic depressions, especially outpatients who have lack of energy, a history of bipolar disorder, or a nonresponse to conventional treatment with TCAs. However, their major role for psychiatric patients appears to be in the large heterogeneous group of ambulatory depressives who have symptoms of both anxiety and depression. The danger of side effects or toxicity associated with MAOIs has been exaggerated. Most side effects are relatively mild and are controllable by dose reduction or other supportive measures. The adverse reaction of most concern, hypertensive crisis, is great extent preventable with appropriate dietary restrictions. Selective and reversible MAOI's may have a better safety profile compared to classical MAOI's.