A control study of quetiapine and paroxetine in the treatment of depression

Objective To detect the efficacy and safety of single quetiapine and paroxetine in the treatment of depression.Methods 150 patients with depression were assigned into quetiapine group and paroxetine group.Course of treatment was 8 weeks.Montgomery-Asberg depressive scale(MADRS),Hamilton depressive scale(HAMD)were applied to evaluate efficacy,and treatment emergent symptoms scale(TESS)was applied to evaluate side-effect of drugs.Results The two groups showed same in efficacy.No significant difference was found between the two groups on reducing score of MADRS,HAMD at the end of 8 weeks(P0.05).There were 49(65.3%)patients in the quetiapine group and 48(65.8%) patients in the paroxetine group responded to drugs at the end of 8-week treatment.None of the patient receiving quetiapine switched into mania,but 4 patients in paroxetine group did.Patients in quetiapine group were more likely to have dizziness,dry mouth,constipation and other side effects than those in paroxetine group.Conclusion Single quetiapine and paroxetine were almost the same in efficacy.None of the patient receiving quetiapine switched into mania,but has frequently more dizziness,dry mouth,constipation and other side effects.