Paroxetine versus venlafaxine and escitalopram in Korean patients with major depressive disorder: A randomized, rater-blinded, six-week study

Young Sup Woo, Roger S. McIntyre, Jung Bum Kim, Min-Soo Lee, Jae Min Kim, Hyeon Woo Yim, Tae Youn Jun

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    3 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of escitalopram, paroxetine and venlafaxine in Korean patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: A total of 449 Korean MDD patients were recruited in a six-week, randomized, rater-blinded, active-controlled trial and were evenly randomized to paroxetine, venlafaxine, or escitalopram treatment. Results: When comparing the mean difference for the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) total scores during six weeks, paroxetine (-6.4±0.4, and -5.4±0.4, respectively) was found to be significantly superior to escitalopram (-3.7±0.5 and -3.1±0.4, respectively). Venlafaxine had a significantly lower MADRS total score (-5.4±0.4) than escitalopram. When adjusting baseline variables, the response, according to the MADRS and HDRS scores, in the paroxetine group was greater than that for the escitalopram group (odds ratio [OR]=2.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.42-4.16 for MADRS; and OR=2.32, 95% CI=1.35-3.97 for HDRS) and the venlafaxine group (OR=1.94, 95% CI=1.17-3.21 for MADRS; and OR=1.71, 95% CI=1.03-2.83 for HDRS). Despite that the overall tolerability was high and similar among the three groups, a total of 268 subjects (59.7%) prematurely discontinued treatment, representing the main limitation of the present study. Conclusion: Although a low study completion rate limits generalizability, our findings suggest that paroxetine might be superior to escitalopram in Korean MDD patients. Further studies should be conducted to draw a definite conclusion.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)391-401
    Number of pages11
    JournalClinical Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
    Volume15
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2017 Jan 1

    Keywords

    • Escitalopram
    • Korean
    • Major depressive disorder
    • Paroxetine
    • Venlafaxine

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Psychiatry and Mental health
    • Behavioral Neuroscience
    • Pharmacology (medical)

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