The DOI matches its Crossref record.
Efficacy and tolerability of mirtazapine versus citalopram: a double-blind, randomized study in patients with major depressive disorder
Abstract
We aimed to compare the antidepressant and anxiolytic effects, tolerability and effects on quality of life of mirtazapine and citalopram in a randomized, double-blind, multicentre, 8-week study. Patients with a Major Depressive Episode (DSM-IV) and a baseline score of > or = 22 on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) were randomized to 8 weeks treatment with either mirtazapine (n = 137, 15-60 mg/day) or citalopram (n = 133, 20-60 mg/day). Efficacy was evaluated by the MADRS, Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A), Clinical Global Impression scales (CGI), the Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire (LSEQ) and Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (QLESQ). The efficacy analyses were performed on the Intent-To-Treat Group using the Last Observation Carried Forward method. Vital signs and laboratory variables are measured and adverse events recorded at each weekly visit. The magnitude of reduction from baseline in group mean MADRS scores was large in both groups, reaching after 8 weeks of treatment mean scores of 9.1 in the mirtazapine group and 8.9 in the citalopram group. Both treatments also resulted in a substantial improvement in anxiety symptoms, sleep disturbances and quality of life, and high percentage of responders. However, at day 14, statistically significantly larger magnitudes of change favouring mirtazapine were present in the group mean MADRS, HAM-A and CGI-Severity of illness and Quality of life scores. A difference of 2.3 points on MADRS…
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“(Leinonen et al., 1999) showed that subjective ratings for all LSEQ factors significantly improved with citalopram (2060mg), although not as quickly as with mirtazapine (15-60mg).”
From Antidepressants and their effect on sleep (2005) · cites this paper as Leinonen et al., 1999
In the citing paper
“(Leinonen et al., 1999) found that mirtazapine (15-60mg) was associated with more rapid improvements in QOS and BFW on the LSEQ than was citalopram (20-60mg).”
From Antidepressants and their effect on sleep (2005) · cites this paper as Leinonen et al., 1999
In the citing paper
“However, patient-rated LSEQ scores have been shown to improve with citalopram (Leinonen et al., 1999), sertraline and fluoxetine (Aguglia et al., 1993), comparing well with TCAs in this respect, although not so well as some of the newer antidepressants.”
From Antidepressants and their effect on sleep (2005) · cites this paper as Leinonen et al., 1999
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Cipriani, A., Furukawa, T. A., Salanti, G., Geddes, J. R., Higgins, J. P., Churchill, R., Watanabe, N., Nakagawa, A., Omori, I. M., McGuire, H., et al. (2009) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(09)60046-5 · Cited by 1,654
Malhi, G. S., Bassett, D., Boyce, P., Bryant, R., Fitzgerald, P. B., Fritz, K., Hopwood, M., Lyndon, B., Mulder, R., Murray, G., et al. (2015) · Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/0004867415617657 · Cited by 842
Cleare, A., Pariante, C., Young, A., Anderson, I., Christmas, D., Cowen, P., Dickens, C., Ferrier, I., Geddes, J., Gilbody, S., et al. (2015) · Journal of Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1177/0269881115581093 · Cited by 759
Gartlehner, G., Hansen, R. A., Morgan, L. C., Thaler, K., Lux, L., Van Noord, M., Mager, U., Thieda, P., Gaynes, B. N., Wilkins, T., et al. (2011) · Annals of Internal Medicine · doi:10.7326/0003-4819-155-11-201112060-00009 · Cited by 355
Antidepressants and their effect on sleep
Mayers, A. G., & Baldwin, D. S. (2005) · Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental · doi:10.1002/hup.726 · Cited by 323
Metadata
- Authors
- Leinonen, E., Skarstein, J., Behnke, K., ??gren, H., & Th Helsdingen, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Helsinki (FI)
- Venue
- International Clinical Psychopharmacology
- Published
- 1999-11
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 329-337
- ISSN
- 0268-1315 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2229094993
- Cited by
- 146
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2017: 1 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 5.01
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- International Clinical Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology (medical) › Treatment of Major Depression
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychological Treatments and Disorders
- Keywords
- mirtazapine, citalopram, major depressive disorder, antidepressant efficacy, tolerability, sleep disorders, quality of life, anxiety symptoms, sweating, weight gain, adverse events, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, atypical antidepressants, treatment response time, nausea
- MeSH terms
- Mirtazapine, Adult, Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic, Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorder, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Male, Mianserin, Middle Aged, Patient Dropouts, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Citalopram, Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation
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