title: Prophylactic effect of mianserin on recurrent depression.
abstract: The prophylactic effect of mianserin on recurrent depression was studied in a double-blind comparison with an inactive placebo by analyzing the recurrence rate and the number of depressive episodes in 9 mianserin-treated (daily dose 20-60 mg) and 13 placebo-treated patients. The selected patients were those who had a higher incidence of recurrence (more than 2 depressive episodes during the 2 years preceding the study). During the 18-month study period, 4 of 9 mianserin-treated patients and all 13 placebo-treated patients had recurrences. The ratio between patients with recurrence and total patients (recurrence ratio) was lower in the mianserin-treated group throughout the study, and the intergroup difference from the 3rd to the 18th month was significant. In the mianserin-treated group, the frequency of episode recurrence during the study period was significantly lower and the total duration of episodes was significantly shorter than those in the placebo-treated group. The treatments did not differ significantly in safety. These results clearly indicate that mianserin is effective in the prophylaxis of recurrent depressive episodes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mizukawa
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Matsuzaki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hazama
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kamase
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kunimoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008803:Mianserin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D008803:Mianserin