Chemotherapy of Bronchitis

At the end of one month the ten suppressors were well, all having responded to the particular antidepressant drug and not having relapsed, at that time, with placebo substitution. The six non-suppressors, after one month's antidepressant treatment had not improved and were all then treated with E.C.T. with subsequent improvement. This small study suggests that poor shortterm response to antidepressants is related to hypothalamic dysfunction. This lack of response and the presence of hypothalamic dysfunction could not have been predicted from clinical or questionary data. Further studies of specific treatment responses and tests of hypothalamic function are needed in depressed patients. If these findings are replicated, they may be of clinical value in deciding on appropriate treatment for the particular patient and may help in elucidating the action of antidepressants.-We are, etc., W. R. McLEOD. B. J. CARROLL. BRIAN DAVIES. Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, Australia.