[Proofs of efficacy]

Several factors are to be taken account in the assessment of the overall efficacy of a new antidepressant. There are rules governing the diagnostic categories, baseline scores and the conditions for the assessment of their course in the context of both placebo-controlled trials and studies versus reference products. As an illustration, two studies of clomipranine versus specific inhibitors of serotonin reuptake are reviewed. The author analyzes various studies conducted on venlafaxine, a new serotoninergic and noradrenergic product.