Effects of paroxetine combined with quetiapine in the treatment of double depression

Objective:To evaluate clinical efficacy and safety of paroxetine combined with quetiapine in the treatment of double depression.Methods:Sixty-six inpatients and outpatients who met the CCMD-3 diagnostic criteria for double depression were randomized to two groups.The research group(n=34)received paroxetine combined with quetiapine and the control group received paroxetine for 12 weeks.Clinical efficacies and adverse reactions were assessed with the Hanmilton Depression Scale(HAMD),Hanmilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA),Clinical Global Impression(CGI)and Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale(TESS)before treatment and at the end of the 2nd,4th,6th,8th and 12th week,respectively.Results:Before treatment there were no significant differences in the scores of both HAMD and HAMA between the two groups(Ps0.05).After 12 week treatment,the scores of the HAMD and HAMA in both groups were lower than those before pretreatment(Ps0.05).At the end of the 6th,8th and 12th week,the scores of both the HAMD and HAMA were lower in the research group than in the control group(Ps0.05).The effective rate was higher in the research group than in control group(71% vs.44%,P0.05).There was no difference of incidences of adverse reactions between the 2 groups(32% vs.25%,P0.05).Conclusions:Paroxetine combined with quetiapine may have a better efficacy and higher safety in the treatment of double depression.