Depressive reactions in hypertensive patients; a comparison of those treated with Rauwolfia and those receiving no specific antihypertensive treatment.

Because of reports that derivatives of Rauwolfia serpentina may cause severe mental depression when used in the treatment of hypertension, the depressive reactions and possible contributing factors were studied in a group of 387 hypertensive patients. Some of the patients received no specific antihypertensive medication; some were treated with Rauwolfia derivatives alone and some with Rauwolfia and other antihypertensive drugs. Of the patients receiving Rauwolfia, alone or with other drugs, 26 per cent experienced depressive reactions whereas only 5 per cent of the others had them.