A multicentre study compared the antidepressant efficacy and the tolerance of two selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, paroxetine (20–30 mg/d) and fluvoxamine (50–200 mg/d) in two parallel groups of respectively 56 and 64 patients with major depression, as defined by DSM‐III‐R criteria. The duration of the study was six weeks, with assessments at baseline and at the end of weeks 1, 2, 4, and 6. For efficacy the Hamilton depression, the Hamilton anxiety scales and the clinical global impressions were used; adverse events were assessed by means of a non‐leading question. Results showed a similar improvement in both groups on all rating instruments. The total number of patients reporting adverse events did not significantly differ between paroxetine (52 per cent) and fluvoxamine (64 per cent); severe adverse events were however significantly less frequently reported with paroxetine than with fluvoxamine (13 per cent versus 28 per cent), and resulted less frequently in the discontinuation of treatment (5 per cent versus 17 per cent).

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