Comparison of the effects of mirtazapine versus sertraline in treatment of depression after craniocerebral trauma

AIM To evaluate the therapeutic effect and safety of mirtazapine and sertraline in treatment of depression after craniocerebral trauma.METHODS Sixty depression patients after craniocerebral trauma according to CCMD3 criteria were enrolled in this study.Thirty patients were given mirtazapine,and another thirty patients were given sertraline for 6 wk.All the patients were evaluated with HAMD and TESS.Antidepressive effect was compared between two drugs.RESULTS At the end of 6 wk of treatment,there were no significant differences between the effective rates and cure rates of mirtazapine group(86.7%,76.7%) and those of sertraline group(86.7%,80.0%)(P0.05).The scores of HAMD after 6 wk of treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment both in mirtazapine group and in sertraline group,respectively(P0.01).The frequencies of somnolence in mirtazapine group were much higher than those in sertraline group,and the frequencies of sleepless of sertraline group were significantly higher than those of mirtazapine group(P0.05).CONCLUSION Mirtazapine and sertraline are safe and effective in the treatment of depression after craniocerebral trauma.