Is Diazepam an Antidepressant?

In double-blind sequential study, diazepam was compared with the proven antidepressant moclobemide, in patients with atypical depression. Both agents significantly improved depression ratings over eight weeks of treatment. Diazepam was a significantly better antidepressant than moclobemide at four weeks, although not at eight weeks. All patients ceased diazepam within one year and none reported withdrawal reactions. These data suggest the need to reconsider that benzodiazepines may be antidepressants and to study their possible antidepressant actions.