Effect of Mirtazapine and Clomipramine on the Life Quality of Patients with Depressive Disorder

Objective: To compare the life quality of depressive patients treated with mirtazapine and clomipramine.Methods:48 depressive patients were randomized to mirtazapine treatment group (N=23) and clomipramine group (N=25) for 6 months. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS),and General Quality of Life Inventory (GQOLI) were used at baseline and the end of study.Results: 6 months after treatment, the HAMD score of mirtazapine group was lower than that of clomipramine group (9.4±3.4,14.2±3.5,t =3.42, P﹤0.05); The GQOLI score of mirtazapine group was higher than that of clomipramine group(196.2±10.1,170.7±19.9, t=7.62, P﹤0.01).There were fewer side effects in mirtazapine group than in clomipramine group. Compared with GQOLI score at baseline, the increase in mirtazapine group(165.2±21.9,196.2±10.1) was statistically significant (P﹤0.01) while that in clomipramine group was not(166.4±19.6,170.7±19.9,P0.05). Conclusion:Mirtazapine is more effective and safer than clomipramine. It also significantly improves the quality of life of depressive patients while clomipramine does not.