A prospective randomized single-blind, multicenter trial comparing the efficacy and safety of paroxetine with and without quetiapine therapy in depression associated with anxiety

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To evaluate quetiapine as an adjunct to paroxetine in patients with comorbid depression and anxiety. METHOD Prospective, multicenter, single-blind trial of patients with DSM-IV major depression and associated anxiety, who were randomized to an 8-week treatment with paroxetine alone (n=54) or paroxetine+quetiapine (n=58). Quetiapine was dosed to 200 mg/day and paroxetine to 60 mg/day, as required. RESULTS Decrease in HAM-A scores was significantly greater in the combined therapy group than with paroxetine alone at weeks 2, 4, 6 and LOCF (PCONCLUSION Quetiapine added to paroxetine is well tolerated and may speed up and improve response in patients with comorbid depression and anxiety.