A comparation study of duloxetine and citalopram in the treatment of depression

Objective:To compare efficacy of duloxetine and citalopram in the treatment of depression with different symptoms.Method:122 patients meeting with ICD-10 for depression were divided into psychotic symptom group(n=60) and somatic symptom group(n=62),according to their different complaints.Then psychotic symptom group and somatic symptom group were randomly divided into two sub-groups respectively,duloxetine sub-group(n=30/30) and citalopram sub-group(n=30/32) for 6 weeks treatment.The efficacy and the safety were assessed by Hamilton depression scale(HAMD) and the treatment emergent symptom scale(TESS),respectively.Results:There was no significant difference in the efficacy between duloxetine sub-group and citalopram sub-group in the treatment of depressed patients predominant in psychotic symptoms.The response rate was significantly higher in patients of duloxetine sub-group compared with that in citalopram sub-group 76.67% vs.53.12%(P0.05) in the treatment of depressed patients predominant in somatic symptoms.Conclusion:Both duloxetine and citalopram were effective in the treatment of depression,with duloxetine response earlier and more effective in the treatment of depressed with somatic symptoms.