Clinical Evaluation of Mirtazapine and Clomipramine for the Treatment of Depressive Disorder Associated with Anxiety

OBJECTIVE:To compare clinical efficiency and adverse reactions of mirtazapine and clomipramine in the treatment of depressive disorder associated with anxiety.METHODS: 111 patients with depressive disorder associated with anxiety were divided into two groups:56 patients were in mirtazapine group.Of those,the males were 30 and the females 26,their ages were 39.4±13.7.Depressive period of this time was 3.4±5.2 months,they were treated with mirtazapine 30～45mg/d for 6 weeks;55 patients were in clomipramine group.Of those,the males were 29 and the females 26,their ages were 40.2±12.6,depressive period of this time was 4.1±3.8 months,they were treated with clomipramine 100mg～200mg,bid,for 6 weeks.RESULTS:Marked effective rates of mirtazapine group and clomipramine group in treating depressive symptoms were 73.2% and 67.3%(P0.05),but that of mirtazapine group and clomipramine group in treating anxiety symptoms were 78.8% and 43.6%(P0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions in mirtazapine group and clomipramine group was equivalent.CONCLUSION: Mirtazapine and clomipramine are safe and effective drugs for the treatment of depressive disorder,but mirtazapine is superior to clomipramine in reducing anxiety symptoms.