[Treatment of therapy-resistant depressions. Results of combined infusion treatment].

230 patients with therapy-resistant depression were given intravenous drip infusion treatment with clomipramine (a predominantly serotonin-uptake inhibitor) and maprotiline (a predominantly noradrenaline-uptake inhibitor), preceded by a five-day tranquilizing regimen with a neuroleptic drug. During the treatment period of 10-20 days the patients were given one infusion daily, while later both antidepressants were taken orally. The neuroleptic drug was given at night from the start of the infusion phase to the end of hospitalization. After four weeks' treatment 68% of the endogenous depressives and 54% of the exhaustion depressives had completely remitted. In patients who fail to respond the infusion regimen can be repeated after carefully rechecking the patient's diagnosis. After discharge and resumption of work the antidepressants should be reduced stepwise. A prerequisite for success in the management of refractory depression is the combination of drug administration with adequate psychotherapeutic and physiotherapeutic measures. The infusion regimen is relatively easy to administer, can be given on an outpatient basis and could be the treatment of choice in the future not only for treatment-resistant depression but also for patients whose depressive state requires rapidly effective antidepressive measures. In view of the encouraging experience obtained to date with this treatment, the World Health Organization is conducting an international collaborative research project involving 12 psychiatric centres to elucidate the effectiveness of intravenous infusion therapy in different races with different dietary habits and varying climatic conditions.