Abstract: AIM: To observe the efficacy and safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) collaborating with Sodium Valproate RX on the treatment of depression with agitation or anxiety. METHODS: Totally 80 cases which conform to the diagnostic criteria of depression with agitation or anxiety were randomly divided into the treatment group (using SSRI collaborating with Sodium Valproate RX) and the control group (only using SSRI), each group had 40 cases. The efficacy and safety were assessed by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAMA), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) and Treatment Emergent Side-Effect Scale (TESS) at pretreated, 1-week, 2-week, 4-week and 8-week after treatment. RESULTS: 2 cases dropout for lost in 40 cases of the treatment group. The effective rate and full remission rate were 28.9%(11/38)and 7.9%(3/38),36.8%(14/38)and 13.2%(5/38),50%(19/38)and 28.9%(11/38),89.5%(34/38)and 52.6%(20/38) at 1-week, 2-week, 4-week and 8-week after treatment in treatment group . Meanwhile 3 cases dropout in 40 cases of the control group for side reactions (1 for swiching to mania ). The effective rate and full remission rate were 21.6%(8/37)and 5.4%(2/37),32.4%(12/37)and 8.1%(3/37),43.2%(16/37)and 18.9%(7/37),54.1%(20/37)and 32.4%(12/37)at 1-week, 2-week, 4-week and 8-week after treatment in control group. Compared with before treatment, the levels of HAMD,HAMA,YMRS had significant difference at 1-week, 2-week, 4-week and 8-week after treatment in two groups (P<0.01).There was no significant difference of the overall number of adverse reaction between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The combination of SSRI and Sodium Valproate RX maybe one of better ways in the treatment of depression.with agitation or anxiety for their better efficacy and higher safety than the sole using of SSRI.

Key words: Agitated Depression, Anxiety, Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), Sodium Valproate RX