BACKGROUND: Irreversible @entity1154 oxidase inhibitors (imaoi) are rarely used in Flanders. Such an anti-imaoi policy is not in keeping with the role that imaoi now play in the general guidelines for the treatment of @entity308 . AIM: To provide an overview of the history and the current use of imaoi in Flanders. METHOD: We searched the literature and the literature used in the @entity146 courses taught at Ghent University and the Catholic University of Leuven and we consulted the Acta (Neurologica et) Psychiatrica Belgica. The information we collected was supplemented by personal communications from experts and by data about the period of commercialisation, the pharmaceutical companies producing imaoi and the use of imaoi. RESULTS: imaoi were introduced rapidly onto the Flemish market but their popularity was short-lived. University courses did not give much attention to imaoi and the attitude to these inhibitors was negative. At the moment, @entity20919 is the only imaoi available on the Flemish market and is only rarely prescribed. CONCLUSION: Following the international trend, imaoi in Flanders initially enjoyed a short period of popularity. However, the limited use of @entity20919 at present is not in line with the current guidelines for the treatment of @entity308 . Practitioners and health professionals need to be better informed. Better education and wider use of imaoi in Flanders are recommended.

[Irreversible XXXX oxidase inhibitors (IMAOI) to treat @entity308 - limited use at present in Flanders].

@entity308 :: ('MESH:D003866', 'Disease') :: ['depressive disorders'] @entity20919 :: ('MESH:D010624', 'Chemical') :: ['phenelzine'] @entity1154 :: ('CHEBI:25375', 'Chemical') :: ['monoamine'] @entity146 :: ('MESH:D001523', 'Disease') :: ['psychiatric']
@entity1154 :: (CHEBI:25375,Chemical) :: ['monoamine']
