A double-blind comparison of once-daily flupenthixol and mianserin in depressed hospital out-patients.

A double-blind, parallel group study was carried out in 51 mild to moderately depressed hospital out-patients to assess the therapeutic efficacy and side-effects of once-daily flupenthixol (1 mg) administered in the morning compared with once-daily mianserin (30 mg) administered in the evening. Patients were treated over a period of 6 weeks and assessments were made before and during treatment using the Newcastle Rating Scale, the Clinical Global Impression, the Hamilton Depression Scale, the Leeds Self-Rating Scale for Depression, and a check-list of side-effects. The results showed that 91% of flupenthixol patients and 80% of mianserin patients were assessed as 'normal' on completion of the study period. Depressive symptoms decreased progressively in both groups. Reports of side-effects in both groups showed a progressive reduction in number and severity during the study. The reduction at the end of the first week of treatment with mianserin was not as great as that seen with flupenthixol; reports of drowsiness accounted for most of the difference.