This was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel trial conducted in outpatients in three countries. Following screening and placebo washout, patients received brofaromine (a combined MAO-A inhibitor/5-HT transport inhibitor) or placebo in a flexible dosing design. Based upon the CAPS, a standardized post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) interview, findings from a cohort involving both subchronic and chronic traumatic stress marginally favored brofaromine over placebo; however, not to a statistically significant degree. With a more conservation definition of the syndrome, employing a primary cohort of patients with PTSD of one year or greater duration, brofaromine significantly reduced PTSD symptoms in comparison with placebo. In all analyses a substantial proportion of patients in both drug and placebo groups remained symptomatic throughout. Findings were supported by an analysis of secondary measures. Brofaromine may be of benefit in the therapy of PTSD.

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Bilateral dense rings in the renal medulla were found on noncontrasted computed tomography in a patient with marked hypercalcemia and suspected primary hyperparathyroidism. The rings were not present on plain radiographs and were obscured on contrasted scans, and may represent occult nephrocalcinosis. Associated findings--renal insufficiency induced by hypercalcemia and interstitial nephritis--may be reversible with early recognition of this CT finding.

The safety and efficacy of brofaromine, a reversible and selective monoamine oxidase inhibitor, were examined in a multicenter trial of 102 outpatients with social phobia. After a 1-week placebo washout, subjects were randomly assigned to 10 weeks of treatment with either brofaromine (N = 52) or placebo (N = 50). Brofaromine dosage began at 50 mg/day and was titrated to a maximum of 150 mg/day, depending on treatment response. Brofaromine produced a significantly greater change from baseline in Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) scores compared with placebo, F(1) = 6.01, p < 0.016. Mean LSAS scores decreased from 81.8 at baseline to 62.6 at endpoint for brofaromine, t = 5.41,p < 0.001, and from 79.8 to 70.7 for placebo, t = 3.66, p < 0.001. Eleven of the 14 brofaromine early terminators discontinued because of adverse experiences, as did 4 of the 17 placebo early terminators. Side effects more common with brofaromine than placebo included insomnia, dizziness, dry mouth, anorexia, tinnitus, and tremor. No clinically significant variations in vital signs or laboratory values were found. The findings are consistent with the clinical efficacy for the treatment of social phobia.

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