Wang Y, Liu X, Peng D, et al. - In this preliminary multicenter randomized controlled trial, researchers sought to compare various treatments for melancholic depression, focusing on efficacy and safety of these treatments. Participants were patients with depression in their first or recurrent acute episode, who were randomized to fluoxetine, fluoxetine+cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), fluoxetine+bupropion, and fluoxetine+bupropion+brain stimulation. In all four groups, findings showed reduction in the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology scores. According to observations, similar response and remission rates were conferred by all four interventions (fluoxetine, fluoxetine+CBT, fluoxetine+bupropion, and fluoxetine+bupropion+brain stimulation) for melancholic depression, but a better impact on self-consciousness was exerted by fluoxetine vs fluoxetine+bupropion. Manageable safety profile was evident.