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Cancer Research and Treatment / Treatment of Major Depression · Journal article
Taj Journal of Teachers Association · September 1, 2026
Encouraging direction, but not yet definitive.
This single-centre, single-blind quasi-experimental study of 120 patients with MDD found that vilazodone produced greater reductions in Beck Depression Inventory-II scores than escitalopram over 24 weeks, with 100% achieving minimal depression scores versus 77.08% in the escitalopram group (p <0.05). The result is limited by lack of double-blinding, absence of a placebo control, single-centre setting, and lack of prespecified primary endpoints or sample size justification.
Quasi-experimental, single-blind comparative study. 120 adult patients with Major Depressive Disorder enrolled from the outpatient Department of Psychiatry, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, meeting predefined eligibility criteria.. Intervention: Vilazodone 10–40 mg once daily for 24 weeks. Compared with: Escitalopram 5–20 mg once daily for 24 weeks. n = 120. Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Rajshahi Medical College, and outpatient Department of Psychiatry, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Rajshahi, Bangladesh..
Vilazodone group mean BDI-II score decreased from 36.33±11.74 at baseline to 0.35±1.09 at 24 weeks Escitalopram group mean BDI-II score decreased from 34.29±10.66 at baseline to 5.43±6.11 at 24 weeks Minimal depression scores achieved in 100% of vilazodone group versus 77.08% of escitalopram group at 24 weeks (p <0.05)
Safety was not reported in the material analysed. Check the source before drawing any conclusion about harm.
If confirmed by randomized, double-blind trials, vilazodone may offer superior depression symptom reduction compared to escitalopram. Clinicians should not change practice based on this single quasi-experimental study; results require replication in rigorous controlled trials before informing treatment selection.
A single-centre, quasi-experimental comparison showing superiority of vilazodone over escitalopram on depression severity, but limited by single-blind design, lack of active comparator control, and modest sample size without prespecified primary endpoints.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
If confirmed by randomized, double-blind trials, vilazodone may offer superior depression symptom reduction compared to escitalopram. Clinicians should not change practice based on this single quasi-experimental study; results require replication in rigorous controlled trials before informing treatment selection.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a persistent, recurrent, and serious mental health condition. Escitalopram is one of the most commonly prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and Vilazodone is an innovative dual-acting serotonergic antidepressant. Methodology: This quasi-experimental, single-blind study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi, in collaboration with the outpatient Department of Psychiatry, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Rajshahi, from July 2023 to June 2024, following ethical clearance from the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire after obtaining consent from the patients. Based on predefined eligibility criteria, 120 patients were included in the research, divided into two groups, each having 60 patients, by random allocation of these two drugs (Escitalopram &Vilazodone) by a simple lottery method. Escitalopram 5-20 mg and Vilazodone 10-40 mg were administered once daily to Group A (control group) and Group B (experimental group), respectively, for 24 weeks. The Beck Depression Inventory-II Bangla Version scale was used to measure the severity of depression, while Data processing and analysis were carried out using SPSS version 24. Results: In the Escitalopram group, the mean score at baseline was 34.29 ±10.66, which decreased to 21.42±11.07, 9.95±7.93, 5.43±6.11, and in the Vilazodone group, the mean score at baseline was 36.33±11.74, which decreased to 16.15±9.71, 3.10±5.63, 0.35±1.09 at the end of 4 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks of drug administration. The overall reduction in BDI-II (BV) test scores from baseline to 24 weeks of drug administration, as well as the difference between the two groups, was found statistically significant (p < 0.05). Minimal scores were proportionately higher in the vilazodone group (100%) than in the escitalopram group (77.08%) at the end of 24 weeks of treatment, which was statistically significant (p <.05). Conclusion: Vilazodone showed better efficacy than Escitalopram.
Taken from the source record, never inferred. Follow any of these and new work involving them reaches your briefing.