Use of isoxazolin-3-one derivatives as antidepressants

Abstract

A method of treating depression comprising administering to a patient an effective amount of a compound of the formula (Ib): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1b is hydrogen, halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkenyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 alkynyl, an unsubstituted benzyl group, a substituted benzyl having at least one substitutent (b) selected from the group consisting of C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkoxy, hydroxy, halogen, nitro, amino and C.sub.2 -C.sub.4 aliphatic carboxylic acylamino; unsubstituted phenyl or a substituted phenyl having at least one substitutent (b); R.sup.2b is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, unsubstituted phenyl, substituted phenyl having at least one substitutent (b), unsubstituted 5- or 6- membered heterocyclic having an oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen as a heteroatom, or substituted 5- or 6- membered heterocyclic having an oxygen, sulfur or nitrogen as a heteroatom and having at least one substitutent (b); and R.sup.3b and R.sup.4b are the same or different and each is hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl, unsubstituted benzyl, substituted benzyl having at least one substituent (b), unsubstituted phenyl, or substituted phenyl having at least one substitutent (b); or R.sup.3b, R.sup.4b and the nitrogen atom to which they are attached together represent an alicyclic amino group having a total of 5 or 6 ring atoms, or which one ring atom is the nitrogen atom and one ring atom is optionally an additional heteroatom selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur, the alicyclic amino group being unsubstituted or, where there is an additional nitrogen heteroatom, the alicyclic amino group having a C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl substitutent on the additional nitrogen heteroatom; or a pharmacologically acceptable acid addition salt thereof.