Double-blind comparative trial of mianserin versus clomipramine

Summary

A double-blind, randomized trial was carried out in 62 female hospitalized patients with affective psychoses to compare the effectiveness and tolerance of mianserin with that of clomipramine. Patients were treated with median doses of 60 mg mianserin (30 to 80 mg) or 150 mg clomipramine (75 to 200 mg) daily for 3 weeks. There were no significant differences between drug treatments as measured by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, the Clinical Global Impressions and the Syndrome Specific Self-Rating Scales. Both drugs produced significant but indistinguishable improvement in depressive symptomatology. The overall incidence of side-effects was low, but clomipramine produced significantly more anticholinergic effects.

Key Words::

• Mianserin
• clomipramine
• antidepressive agents
• depression