Comparative efficacy and safety of bupropion and placebo in the treatment of depression

Abstract

This was a 4-week, three-center, double-blind, randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled evaluation of the efficacy and safety of bupropion in hospitalized depressed patients. Results from 27 placebo and 48 bupropion-treated patients were analyzed for efficacy and safety. Assessments of efficacy and safety were made at baseline and weekly during the study. Preliminary and secondary measures of efficacy included the Clinical Global Impressions for severity (CGI-S) and improvement (CGI-I) of illness, Hamilton Depression and Hamilton Anxiety Scales, and the Zung Self-Rating Scales for depression and anxiety. Assessments of safety included vital signs, electrocardiogram, clinical laboratory tests, and adverse experiences. Dosages of bupropion were 300-600 mg/day. Results showed that bupropion was significantly (P less than 0.01) more effective than placebo at termination of study on the CGI-S, CGI-I, Hamilton Depression and Hamilton Anxiety Scales. On the Zung Self-Rating Depression and Anxiety Scales, statistical trends favored bupropion at termination of study over placebo (P less than 0.10). Adverse events in the bupropion and placebo groups were minimal with notable absence of sedation and anticholinergic- and cardiovascular-related side effects. We conclude that bupropion was significantly more effective than placebo in treating depression and accompanying anxiety in depressed inpatients.