[Biological treatments of depression (author's transl)]

The different biological treatments of depression are first reviewed from an analytical point of view. The drugs are divided in three groups: the classical tricyclic antidepressants, the MAO inhibitors and the recent antidepressants. Some drugs with potential antidepressant properties are also studied. The other biological treatments of depression include electroconvulsive therapy and sleep deprivation. In a second step, the characteristics of these different treatments are detailed. Finally, the strategy of a drug treatment is considered with regard to the choice of the best drug and the best dosage for a given depressed patient.