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H. L. P. Resnik, MD
Center for Studies of Suicide Prevention NIMH, Bethesda, Md

JAMA. 1970;211(7):1189.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

To the Editor.—

There is no question but that Dr. Motto has clearly echoed my warning to the physician, "Do not be a psychopathogenic carrier of the suicidococcus contagiosa!" He indicates correctly that anxiety may exist within the physician which prevents him from diagnosing and managing suicidal conditions. However, I feel that Dr. Motto may have also contributed to raising that same anxiety for he would take from the practicing physician a useful tool—the antidepressant drugs. He states:

1. "I fail to find even reasonable (not to say convincing) evidence of antidepressive effects in my own depressed patients... [nor] more than a mild tranquilizing effect." I would like to point out that when the results of 36 double-blind studies comparing imipramine hydrochloride, one of the more potent antidepressants, and a placebo are combined, 70% of the patients receiving imipramine are rated improved, while only 39% of the patients receiving a
   

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