Use of isoxazolin-3-one derivatives as antidepressants

Abstract

A method of treating depression comprising administering to a patient an effective antidepressive amount of a compound of the formula (I) ##STR1## wherein the endocyclic dotted line ##STR2## is a single bond; the exocyclic dotted line ##STR3## is a double bond; A is oxygen; B is a group of the formula (II) ##STR4## wherein m is 0 and n is 0 or 1; R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and the nitrogen to which they are attached together represent an alicyclic amino having a total of 5 or 6 ring atoms, of which one ring atom is the nitrogen and one ring atom is optionally an additional heteroatom selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, the alicyclic amino being unsubstituted or, where there is an additional nitrogen heteroatom, the alicyclic amino having as a substituent a C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl on the additional nitrogen heteroatom; R.sup.1 is hydrogen or halogen; and R.sup.2 is an unsubstituted phenyl, a substituted phenyl having a substituent selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1-3 alkyl, C.sub.1-3 alkoxy, halogen and nitro, an unsubstituted 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic group having one or more of oxygen, sulfur or a nitrogen as heteroatoms, or a substituted 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic group having one or more of oxygen, sulfur or a nitrogen as heteroatoms and having at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, C.sub.1-3 alkoxy, halogen and nitro; or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof.