[Monoamine oxidase inhibitors in psychiatry. Status of current knowledge]

With the introduction of moclobemide as the first reversible and selective inhibitor of monoamine oxidase (type A), the therapeutic principle of monoamine oxidase inhibition gained new importance. In this paper the clinical pharmacology, efficacy and side effects of traditional monoamine oxidase inhibitors and specifically of tranylcypromine as an example) are compared with those of the reversible and selective monoamine oxidase inhibitors (as exemplified by moclobemide).