Non-psychiatric therapeutic medications in the etiology of organic depression.

Medication-induced depression is classified by DSM-IIIR as organic mood disorder of the depressed type. Unfortunately, there is little consensus in the psychiatric literature regarding which medications are capable of inducing an organic mood disorder. Nor do estimates exist for the prevalence of organic mood disorders. In fact, the existing literature about medication induced depression consists mostly of case reports. Nevertheless, the etiology of organic depression is an important clinical issue, and one deserving of systematic study. In this paper, some of the methodologic issues related to research in this area are reviewed. Meta-analysis is proposed as a useful strategy for the study of some aspects of organic depression. The application of meta-analysis is illustrated with studies investigating the relationship between propranolol, methyldopa, clonidine and depression.