[Tranylcypromine for chronic therapy-resistant agoraphobia with panic disorder and recurrent depressive disorder].

OBJECTIVE: Tranylcypromine has been recommend as an option for therapy-resistant depressive and anxiety disorders. In this case report the effectiveness of this medication as a part of a combined therapy-program including pharmacological, behavioural and psychodynamic interventions could be demonstrated on an outpatient with a therapy-resistant depression and agoraphobia.

METHODS: The development of the illness, clinical symptoms and the 4 year ongoing therapy of a 69-year old patient are described in detail.

RESULTS/CONCLUSION: After the failure of 13 antidepressant agents with considerable side effects, a one year sustained remission of depression as well as great improvement of agoraphobia could be achieved with tranylcypromine. In this situation, tranylcypromine showed itself, for the first time, to be a very effective and well tolerated antidepressant.