Phenelzine treatment of depression with chronic diarrhea

The monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) have been used increasingly in treating nonendogenous depressions. Patients with psychophysiologic disorders have many characteristics in common with known MAOI responders. The authors present the case of a man who had had diarrhea for 36 years, with an underlying chronic depression. The patient was unresponsive to ECT and tricyclic antidepressants. Phenelzine, 60 mg/day, produced dramatic improvement in the patient's diarrhea and his sense of well-being.