Efficacy and tolerability of clomipramine, pirlindole and escitalopram in the treatment of neurotic level depression

The open comparative study of three antidepressants with different mechanisms of action - clomipramine, pirlindole and escitalopram - in the treatment of neurotic level depression (ICD-10 items F32-F34, F43) has been carried out. Ninety-one patients have been stratified into three groups included 31, 31 and 29 patients, respectively.. Duration of the study has been 12 weeks. Clomipramine, pirlindole and escitalopram have similar effect decreasing the total HAM-D score by more than 50% (in average 72%). Clomipramine appears to be more effective in the achievement of remission (63%) as compared to pirlindole (40%) and escitalopram (42%). The tolerability of pirlindole and escitalopram is higher than that of clomipramine and the authors recommend prescription of these drugs to patients with neurotic depression.