[Antidepressive agents in the treatment of masked moods]

Quantitatively, the diagnosis and treatment of depressive disorders is mainly a matter for the general practitioner and internist, although masked forms of depression are, of course, associated with specific problems. If careful examination suggests the likelihood of underlying endogenous depression, treatment with anti-depressants is indicated primarily. In this paper, the pharmacological properties of these drugs are briefly reviewed, and basic suggestions for their practical application discussed. Both in the hospital and outpatient setting, therapy-resistant forms of endogenous depression pose a major problem: these patients are often elderly and the clinical presentation may be that of a masked depression. However, special therapeutic strategies may often have a positive effect in such cases.