A double-blind comparative trial of mianserin and maprotiline in the treatment of depression

SummaryA double-blind group comparative trial was carried out at two centres with 60 outpatients suffering from depressive illness, comparing single night-time doses of mianserin (30 mg for Week 1, then 60 mg) and maprotiline (75 mg for Week 1, then 150 mg) over a treatment period of 5 weeks. Treatment groups were matched for age, sex, diagnosis and duration of present illness. Both drugs were found to be effective antidepressants but no significant differences could be detected between them using the Hamilton Rating Scale, the Beck Self-Rating Scale or the Clinical Global Impressions Scale. The incidence of side-effects was low and the quality of sleep improved significantly on both treatments. ECG was monitored weekly and no abnormalities in conduction time or heart rate were detected.