A comparative study of duloxetine and citalopram in the treatment of depression with different symptoms

Objective To compare efficacy of duloxetine and citalopram in the treatment of depression with different symptoms. Methods A total of 126 patients who met the criteria of CCMD-3 for depression were assigned to two groups based on different complaints(mental or somatic complaints). Every group was randomly divided into two subgroups treated with duloxetine or citalopram for 6 weeks. The efficacy was assessed by Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD),and the safety was assessed by Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale(TESS). Results The efficacy rates of the dulixetine subgroup and the citalopram subgroup were 84% and 75% in the patients with mental complaints ,there was no significant difference between two subgroups (P0.05). In the patients with somatic complaints ,the efficacy rates of the duloxetine subgroup and the citalopram subgroup were 80% and 55% respectively,there was significant difference between two subgroups (P0.05).Conclusion Duloxetine could show better efficacy than citalopram in the patients with somatic symptoms.