A double-blind group comparative trial of mianserin and diazepam in depressed outpatients

In a double-blind trial in depressed outpatients, 80 subjects received either mianserin 30--80 mg daily or diazepam 15--40 mg daily, for 4 weeks. Most patients received 50--60 mg mianserin, or 25--30 mg diazepam, daily after the first week. Mianserin was significantly superior to diazepam in antidepressant efficacy from day 14 to the end of the trial, as measured by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the Beck Self-Rating Scale, and at day 28 as measured by the Clinical Global Impression. All three measures showed that the mianserin group started the trial with a significantly more severe degree of illness than the diazepam group, but this difference was already reversed by day 14. Side-effects were more frequent with mianserin treatment.