A controlled study in the treatment of depression with escitalopram and fluoxetine

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of escitalopram and fluoxetine in the treatment of major depression.Methods 60 patients diagnosed as depression were randomly assigned into escitaloptam group (n=29)which received escitaloptam treatment and fluoxetine group (n=27)which received fluoxetine treatment for 6 weeks.Clinical efficacy was evaluated with Hamilton depression scale(HAMD)and Hamilton anxiety scale(HAMA),and adverse reactions and safety were assessed with treatment symptom scale(TESS).Results The mean values of HAMD and HAMA total scores in the two groups were significantly lower at the end of 2、4、6 weeks than before treatment (P0.05),but there was no significant differences between the two groups (P0.05).The response rate and remission rate were 79.3% and 58.6% for escitalopram group and were 77.8% and 55.6% for fluoxetine group respectively,There was no significant difference between two groups(P0.05).The total incidence rates of side effect in fluoxetine group were higher than that in escitalopram group(P0.05).Conclusion Escitalopram andfluoxtine has similar effects on major depression.However,escitalopram has less side effects.