Venlafaxine had higher response and remission rates than paroxetine in non-chronic treatment resistant depression

Patients 123 patients (mean age 43 y, 72% women) with major depression (DSM-III-R) of < 8 months duration. Inclusion criteria were age 18–60 years, 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) score >18 and resistance (Clinical Global Impression [CGI] scale improvement score of 3 at the second treatment) to 2 antidepressant treatments for the current depression (therapeutic dose for >4 wk, then an alternative antidepressant at an effective dose equivalent to clomipramine 100–150 mg for >4 or >2 weeks if discontinued because of safety problems). Exclusion criteria were use of study drugs during the current episode; use of anticoagulants, phenytoin, mood stabilisers, or electroconvulsive therapy; recent use of antipsychotics or monoamine oxidase inhibitors; nonaffective disorder; suicide ideation; treatment inhibiting organic disease; seizure disorders; psychoactive substance dependence; cardiac, renal, or hepatic disease; pregnancy; or lactation. Follow up was 87% (observed case analysis).