[Psychometric findings in treatment using the selective MAO-A inhibitors moclobemide and maprotiline]

Two groups of depressed patients were treated either with a selective MAO-A-inhibitor, moclobemide (n = 13), or a tetracyclic antidepressant, maprotiline (n = 18), in a 28 days lasting investigation. Before and after treatment psychopathologic symptoms were rated using Hamilton Depression Scale, motor performance were proven by the Motorische Leistungs-Serie (MLS), and acoustic and visual sensorimotor performance were investigated using Bettendorff Reaktiometer T96. Deterioration of psychomotor performance were seen in patients without amelioration of their psychopathologic symptoms, especially when treated with moclobemide. These findings were regarded as a hint that possibly the therapeutic agent interacts with the wrong transmitter system and perhaps this is the reason for the deterioration of psychomotor functions.