Survey of Hypertension with Depression and the Therapeutic Effect of Paroxetine

【Objective】To investigate the rate of depression in the hypertensive patients and the therapeutic effct of paroxetine.【Methods】From January 2003 to June 2005,one thousand and eighty patients of hypentension complicated with depression were analysed and evaluated with Hamilton rating scale for depression(HAMD).Depression was treated with paroxetine for 4 weeks.【Results】There were 113 cases of depression in 1 080 hypertensive patients with a morbidity rate of 10.46%;76 cases(67.25%) of depression were female;among 62 cases of premature heart beat,16 cases(25.81%) with depression.The higher the grade of hypertension,the higher the depression morbidity rate.After treatment with paroxetine the HAMD decreased significantly(P0.01).【Conclusion】Great attention should be paid to hypertension with depression,expeciably to high grade of hypertension or with premature heart beat.Paroxetine is very effective to treat depression with hypertension.