RESUMEN
Objective To compare the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of venlafaxine and mirtazapine in patients with treatment-resistant major depression (TRD).Methods One hundred and five patients with TRD were enrolled in this study and grouped into venlafaxine treatment (n=50) and mirtazapine treatment (n=55) based on the double-blind randomization scheme generated by computer.The treatment costs of antidepressants during 8 weeks were calculated,the rates of clinical response and remission were taken as treatment effectiveness,and the quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) as treatment utility.The descriptive analysis and nonparametric test were used to compare the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of different groups.Results During 8 weeks,the treatment cost of antidepressant was ￥ 1 396.44 for venlafaxine and ￥ 1 206.90 mirtazapine,and the difference between two groups was ￥ 189.54.The cost-effectiveness ratios between venlafaxine and mirtazapine were very close (differed ￥ 0.06 for remission rate and ￥ 1.08 for response rate respectively).There was no significant difference for cost-utility ratios between two groups (physical functioning Z=-0.15,P＞0.05 ; mental health Z=-0.54,P＞0.05).Conclusion Both cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of venlafaxine in patients with TRD are close between venlafaxine and mirtazapine.