Effects of Daily Oral m-Chlorophenylpiperazine in Elderly Depressed Patients

6 elderly patients with major depression were treated for 2 weeks with the serotonin (5-HT) agonist m-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP). 2 patients showed clinically significant improvement, & 2 no improvement. The 2 patients with the best response had symptoms of aggressiveness & suicidality, behaviors with which 5-HT dysfunction has been linked. The authors conclude that further study is needed to determine the possible antidepressant effects of m-CPP. (VM)