[Monoamine oxidase inhibitors and food precautions. A comparison of utilization in Belgian psychiatric education institutes and current findings in the literature].

After an extensive survey of MAOI diets prescribed in different Belgian training institutes, there appears to be a confused situation which can cause obstacle for prescription. Of the diets received, we note that 211 foodstuffs and type of foodstuffs have been recommended for restrictive use. However, a most recent literature overviews shows restrictive recommendations for only 40 foodstuffs and types of foodstuffs. Its systematic analysis allows us to propose to the patient a personalized diet with little restrictions which is explained on an understandable rather than a descriptive basis. The adoption of this kind of diet should facilitate easier access to MAOI's, in case more simple therapy strategies have failed, especially in the atypical depressive disorders and tricyclic's refractory depressive disorders.