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Is Diazepam an Antidepressant?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

John Tiller ,
Isaac Schweitzer ,
Kay Maguire  and
Brian Davies
John Tiller*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne
Isaac Schweitzer
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne
Kay Maguire
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne
Brian Davies
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne
*
∗c/o P.O. Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria 3050, Australia
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Abstract

In double-blind sequential study, diazepam was compared with the proven antidepressant moclobemide, in patients with atypical depression. Both agents significantly improved depression ratings over eight weeks of treatment. Diazepam was a significantly better antidepressant than moclobemide at four weeks, although not at eight weeks. All patients ceased diazepam within one year and none reported withdrawal reactions. These data suggest the need to reconsider that benzodiazepines may be antidepressants and to study their possible antidepressant actions.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 155 , Issue 4 , October 1989 , pp. 483 - 489
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists 1989 

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