A COMPARISON OF VENLAFAXINE, TRAZODONE, AND PLACEBO IN MAJOR DEPRESSION

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was undertaken to compare the safety and efficacy of venlafaxine and trazodone in patients with maj or depression. Two hundred twenty-rive patients entered an initial 6-w eek treatment phase, and 149 completed it. Ninety-six patients who wer e responders continued in a 1-year, double-blind, long-term phase duri ng which they received the same medication and doses they had during t he short-term phase. Both active treatments were significantly more ef fective than placebo on some measures during the short-term study, but venlafaxine produced more improvement in the cognitive disturbance an d retardation factors on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Tra zodone was more effective against the sleep disturbance factor. Patien ts on venlafaxine were most likely to enter the long-term phase and to remain in the trial longest. The side effect profiles of the three tr eatment groups were compared. Venlafaxine was most likely to cause nau sea, whereas trazodone was associated with the most dizziness and somn olence.