MMAI has been shown to relieve stress-induced depression in rats more robustly than sertraline,[5] and as a result it has been suggested that SSRAs like MMAI and 4-MTA could be developed as novel antidepressants with a faster onset of therapeutic action and superior efficacy to current antidepressants such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).[6]
^ abMarona-Lewicka D, Nichols DE (June 1994). "Behavioral effects of the highly selective serotonin releasing agent 5-methoxy-6-methyl-2-aminoindan". European Journal of Pharmacology. 258 (1–2): 1–13. CiteSeerX10.1.1.688.1895. doi:10.1016/0014-2999(94)90051-5. PMID7925587.
^Li Q, Murakami I, Stall S, Levy AD, Brownfield MS, Nichols DE, Van de Kar LD (December 1996). "Neuroendocrine pharmacology of three serotonin releasers: 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-(methylamino)butane (MBDB), 5-methoxy-6-methyl-2-aminoindan (MMAi) and p-methylthioamphetamine (MTA)". The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 279 (3): 1261–1267. PMID8968349.
^Marona-Lewicka D, Nichols DE (December 1997). "The Effect of Selective Serotonin Releasing Agents in the Chronic Mild Stress Model of Depression in Rats". Stress. 2 (2): 91–100. doi:10.3109/10253899709014740. PMID9787258.
^Scorza C, Silveira R, Nichols DE, Reyes-Parada M (July 1999). "Effects of 5-HT-releasing agents on the extracellullar hippocampal 5-HT of rats. Implications for the development of novel antidepressants with a short onset of action". Neuropharmacology. 38 (7): 1055–1061. doi:10.1016/S0028-3908(99)00023-4. PMID10428424. S2CID13714807.