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Antidepressant efficacy and quality of life in depression: a double‐blind study with moclobemide and fluoxetine
Author(s) -
Lonnqvist J.,
Sintonen H.,
Syvälahti E.,
Appelberg B.,
Koskinen T.,
Mannikko T.,
Mehtonen O.P.,
Naarala M.,
Sihvo S.,
Auvinen J.,
Pitkanen H.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0447.1994.tb01530.x
Subject(s) - moclobemide , fluoxetine , nausea , clinical global impression , antidepressant , depression (economics) , quality of life (healthcare) , hamilton rating scale for depression , psychiatry , rating scale , medicine , psychology , adverse effect , major depressive disorder , anxiety , mood , alternative medicine , psychotherapist , serotonin , placebo , developmental psychology , receptor , macroeconomics , pathology , economics
The efficacy of moclobemide (300–450 mg7sol;day) was compared with fluoxetine (20–40 mg/day) in a double‐blind, multicentre study in 209 patients with new episodes of depression selected from 612 consecutive depressed patients representative of those consulting psychiatric services in Finland. Antidepressant efficacy was assessed with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Montgomery‐Åsberg Depression Rating Scale and Clinical Global Impression (CGI). The Medical Outcome Study Short‐form General Health Survey (SF‐20) and 15D Measure of Quality of Life were used to measure effectiveness in terms of health‐related quality of life. Efficacy was evident with both drug treatments, with 67% in the moclobemide group and 57% in the fluoxetine group having a reduction in HDRS of more than 50%. Similarly, 77% of the patients in the moclobemide group and 67% in the fluoxetine group were assessed on the CGI as much better or very much better after 6 weeks of treatment. The most commonly reported adverse events were nausea, other gastrointestinal symptoms, nervousness, dizziness and sleep disorders. Nausea was significantly more common in the fluoxetine group and was found especially in women. Premature terminations of treatment were 18% in the moclobemide and 21% in the fluoxetine group. A significant change for the better in quality of life was found in both treatment groups, even at week 2 but especially after 6 weeks of treatment. Improvement was not only seen in dimensions measuring depression or mental health but also in other dimensions.