Efficacy of escitalopram combined with quetiapine on clinical symptoms and social function in patients with refractory depression

Objective To explore the efficacy of escitalopram combined with quetiapine on clinical symptoms and social function in patients with refractory depression.Methods A total of 81 patients with refractory depression were randomly divided into study group treated with escitalopram combined with quetiapine and control group treated with escitalopram monotherapy for 4 weeks.All patients were assessed with Hamilton Depression Scale(HAMD),Hamilton Anxiety Scale(HAMA),Social Disability Screening Schedule(SDSS) and Treatment Emergent Side Effect Scale(TESS) at baseline and at the end of the 1st,2nd,4th week of the treatment.Results Compared with baseline,scores of HAMD and HAMA in study group decreased significantly at the 1st weekend(P0.05),while in control group the significance appeared till at the 4th weekend(P0.05).Scores of HAMD and HAMA in study group were significantly lower than those in control group at the 1st,2nd,4th weekend of the treatment(P0.05).Compared with baseline,score of SDSS in study group decreased significantly at the 2nd weekend of treatment(P0.05),while in control group,score of SDSS decreased significantly till at the 4th weekend(P0.05).At the 2nd and 4th weekend of treatment,scores of SDSS in study group were significantly lower than those in control group(P0.05).There were no severe side effects in both groups and no significant difference was found in side effects between the two groups(P0.05).Conclusion Escitalopram combined with quetiapine is effective and safe in improving clinical symptoms and social function in patients with refractory depression.Moreover,the combination therapy takes effect rapidly.