Research article summary (published 17 Aug 2009):

Mirtazapine versus venlafaxine for the treatment of somatic symptoms associated with major depressive disorder: a randomized, open-labeled trial.

Full Abstract

Somatic symptoms are often important in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). The aim of this open-labeled trial was to examine the efficacy of mirtazapine for the treatment of MDD with clinically significant somatic symptoms, as compared with venlafaxine. A total of 126 patients with MDD (score >/=18 on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression-17) were included in both the intent-to-treat (n=73 in the mirtazapine group and n=53 in the venlafaxine group) and completer analysis (n=51 and n=37, respectively). After treatment, both treatment groups showed similar improvements in depressive symptoms. Repeated measures analysis of variance for the intent-to-treat population revealed that there were no significant differences in mean change of the Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) somatization subscores between the two groups. For completers, there was a significant timextreatment interaction in the SCL-90-R somatization subscores, but the differences between the two groups at endpoint did not reach statistical significance in post-hoc analysis. In conclusion, this study suggests that overall efficacies of mirtazapine and venlafaxine are similar for the treatment of overall symptoms in MDD, and both drugs may be useful for the treatment of somatic symptoms in MDD patients.

Author information

Author/s: Kang, Eun-Ho (EH); Lee, In-Soo (IS); Chung, Sang-Keun (SK); Lee, Sang-Yeol (SY); Kim, Eui-Jung (EJ); Hong, Jin-Pyo (JP); Oh, Kang-Seob (KS); Woo, Jong-Min (JM); Kim, Seonwoo (S); Park, Joo-Eon (JE); Yu, Bum-Hee (BH);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Psychiatry research (Psychiatry Res), published in Ireland. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 169 (issue 2) : pp 118-23

Dates: Created 2009/09/07; Completed 2009/10/29;

PMID: 19695711, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/29/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Analysis of Variance Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation - therapeutic use Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic - therapeutic use Chi-Square Distribution Cyclohexanols - therapeutic use Depressive Disorder, Major - complications; drug therapy Double-Blind Method Female

Female Humans Male Mianserin - analogs & derivatives; therapeutic use Middle Aged Prospective Studies Psychiatric Status Rating Scales Severity of Illness Index Somatosensory Disorders - drug therapy; etiology

Associated Chemicals: Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation (0) ; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic (0) ; Cyclohexanols (0) ; Mianserin (24219-97-4) ; mirtazapine (61337-67-5) ; venlafaxine (93413-69-5)

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