Comparing Effects of Melatonin versus Trazodone on Sleep Quality in Major Depressed Patients Receiving Sertraline

Background_ Sleep disturbance is a common complaint in major depressive disorder (MDD) including impairment of both subjective and objective parameters, Also SSRIs as antidepressant drugs can affect sleep architecture (SA).
Aim _This randomized trial was designed to compare the effects of trazodone with melatonin on sleep quality (SQ) of patients with MDD based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders –5th edition (DSM-5) criteria.
Method_ Sixty patients who have the study criteria were entered in this study and were divided into two groups receiving either trazodone or melatonin. They were evaluated for sleep quality and depression severity by using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) at baseline and after 4 and 8 weeks.
Result_ Thirty two patients complete the study. Fourteen patients received 3mg of melatonin and eighteen patients received 50mg of trazodone before sleep time. After 4 and 8 weeks treatment with melatonin or Trazodone, significant improvements in SQ were showed in both groups. Additionally, a significant reduction in sleep latency (SL) was showed after 4 weeks of treatment with melatonin but not with trazodone.
Conclusion_ This study demonstrated that both Melatonin and Trazodone improved SQ in outpatients with MDD after 8 weeks of treatment but melatonin created greater reduction in SL than trazodone after 4 weeks.