MIRTAZAPINE IS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN TRAZODONE - A DOUBLE-BLIND CONTROLLED-STUDY IN HOSPITALIZED-PATIENTS WITH MAJOR DEPRESSION

Two hundred hospitalized patients with DSM-III diagnosis of moderate t o severe major depressive episode were randomized to receive mirtazapi ne or trazodone for 6 weeks in a double-blind trial. The dosages were 24-72 mg/day for mirtazapine and 150-450 mg/day for trazodone, The imp rovement on all depression rating scales used was generally greater fo r mirtazapine, with statistically significant differences over trazodo ne in the Hamilton Psychiatric Rating Scale for Depression total score and two subscores (the Bech melancholia factor and retardation factor ), the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale total score, the General Psychia tric Impression Global Assessment Scale, the Beck score and responder rates. Mirtazapine was well tolerated, while the trazodone-treated pat ients experienced somnolence more frequently, particularly during the first 2 weeks of treatment, Furthermore, postural symptoms were a clin ical problem in 6% of the trazodone-treated patients, In this trial, m irtazapine showed significant clinical advantages over trazodone in te rms of overall efficacy and tolerability.