Table 2 Baseline characteristics of the participants at step 2 randomisation
Continue with sertraline (n = 551) | Combine sertraline with mirtazapine (n = 537) | Switch to mirtazapine (n = 558) | |
|---|---|---|---|
Demographic characteristics | |||
Age, year mean (SD) | 41.5 (11.6) | 42.0 (11.7) | 41.4 (11.4) |
Female sex, n (%) | 289 (52.5) | 284 (52.9) | 281 (50.4) |
Education year, mean (SD) | 14.1 (2.4) | 13.8 (2.2) | 14.1 (2.3) |
Job status, n (%) | |||
Employed full-time | 213 (38.7) | 218 (40.8) | 215 (38.7) |
Employed part-time | 52 (9.4) | 52 (9.7) | 40 (7.2) |
On medical leave | 146 (26.5) | 143 (26.7) | 163 (29.3) |
Housewife | 47 (8.5) | 62 (11.6) | 53 (9.5) |
Student | 3 (0.5) | 3 (0.6) | 8 (1.4) |
Retired | 6 (1.1) | 5 (0.9) | 4 (0.7) |
Not employed | 84 (15.3) | 52 (9.7) | 73 (13.1) |
Missing | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Marital status, n (%) | |||
Single, never married | 188 (34.2) | 144 (26.9) | 188 (33.7) |
Single, divorced or separated | 75 (13.6) | 182 (15.3) | 80 (14.3) |
Single, widowed | 10 (1.8) | 17 (3.2) | 9 (1.6) |
Married | 277 (50.4) | 292 (54.6) | 281 (50.4) |
Missing | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Clinical characteristics | |||
Age of onset at first episode, years, mean (SD) | 37.0 (12.9) | 37.0 (12.8) | 36.4 (12.4) |
Number of previous depressive episodes, mean (SD), range | 2.4 (3.4), 1–30 | 2.1 (3.2), 1–50 | 2.4 (4.2), 1–50 |
Length of current episode, months, mean (SD), range | 5.7 (10.6), 0.5–139 | 6.7 (16.9), 0.5–240 | 6.5 (16.3), 0.5–276 |
Inpatient status at baseline, n (%) | 1 (0.2) | 1 (0.2) | 2 (0.4) |
PHQ-9 at week 3, mean (SD) | 12.8 (5.2) | 12.6 (5.1) | 12.8 (5.2) |
BDI-II at week 3, mean (SD) | 24.5 (10.7) | 24.1 (10.7) | 24.4 (10.9) |
Sertraline at week 3, mean (SD), mg/day | 72.2 (26.6) | 71.4 (27.6) | 72.6 (28.3) |