Prophylactic effect of mianserin on recurrent depression

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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.