Depressive Reactions in the Course of Clomipramine Therapy Used in the Treatment of Obsessional Conditions

Abstract

In a small series of patients, suffering from obsessional disorders, it was found that there seems to be a type of depression which occurs during the course of clomipramine therapy. As clomipramine is an antidepressant, this may seem to be an anomaly but it is suggested that depression is secondary to agitation and tension which are recognised side-effects of clomipramine. The patients nevertheless showed improvement in their obsessional symptomatology. The finding seems to reinforce the view that clomipramine has an antiobsessional effect which is distinct from its antidepressant property.