[Open study of befuraline (DIV 154) in 64 depressive patients (author's transl)]

The therapeutic efficacy of the new compound N-benzo[B]-furan-2-ylcarbonyl-N'-benzylpiperazine hydrochloride (befuraline) was evaluated in 64 patients presenting various depressive syndromes. Improvement was found in 33 cases (= 52%) under a daily dose of 150 mg befuraline; 31 of these patients improved within the first 8 days of treatment. Patients with endogenous depression responded favourably to the befuraline therapy, 23 (= 70%) of these (33) patients showing full recovery. Improvement was more frequently observed in patients with mild depression than in severe cases. It seems noteworthy that under befuraline treatment there was also a marked improvement in 21 cases in whom previous long-term therapy with other psychotropic drugs had remained ineffective. Side effects consisted mainly of reversible psycho-organic troubles; extrapyramidal disorders were not observed.