[Therapy with antidepressive and tranquilizing agents]

Since the introduction of imipramine in 1957 in the therapy of depression numerous effective antidepressant substances have been developed, which differ from one another in the biochemical as well as clinical profile of action. A psychopathological diagnosis is a prerequisite for application, whereby the differentiation of the endogenous from the non-endogenous depression, or the inhibited from the agitated depression is an important factor. 65% to 70% of endogenously depressive patients respond well to an antidepressant medication. However, the antidepressant effect still seems to be strongly linked to undesirable (mainly anticholinergic) side effects. The main portion of tranquilizers prescribed at present comprises of benzodiazepines, which are given for the manifold types of anxiety and inner restlessness. Their widely spread application has recently become object of criticism: dependency and changes in the personality have been described. Benzodiazepines should therefore only be prescribed under certain conditions, where their very good anxiolytic effect can be applied without damage to the patient.