The effect of escitalopram in the treatment of senile depression

Objective To evaluate the curative effects of escitalopram in the treatment of senile depression.Methods Totally 53 patients with senile depression were randomly divided into escitalopram group(n=27) and paroxetine(n=26) group for 6 weeks.The curative effects were assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HRSD) and the adverse effects with the Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale(TESS).Results The effective rates were respectively 92.6% in escitalopram and 88.5% in the paroxetine group,and the cure rates were respectively 59.3% in escitalopram and 57.7% in the paroxetine group,which showed no significant difference(P0.05).At the end of the 1st week,the score of the HRSD was significantly lower in the escitalopram group than that in the paroxetine group(P0.05),and was significantly lower than the score before treatment(P0.05).Adverse reactions were happened in 12 cases in the escitalopram group and 13 cases in the paroxetine group,with no significant difference(P0.05).Conclusion Escitalopram is equivalence to paroxetine in treating senile depression,but takes faster effects.