Do venlafaxine XR and paroxetine equally influence negative and positive affect?
GROUND: We assessed the therapeutic effects of venlafaxine XR and paroxetine on mood and anxiety symptoms derived from the tripartite model of mood. We hypothesized that the two antidepressants would have largely similar effects on symptoms of negative affect because both agents influence serotonergic systems. However, based on evidence indicating linkages between catecholaminergic activity and the emotional dimension of positive affect, we hypothesized that the catecholaminergic effects of venlafaxine XR would yield particularly pronounced effects on symptoms of positive affect. METHODS: Twenty depressed outpatients were randomly assigned to treatment with either venlafaxine XR (225 mg/day) or paroxetine (30 mg/day) during a 12-week treatment trial. Weekly mood ratings were collected using the Mood and Anxiety Symptom Questionnaire [Watson, D., Clark, L.A., Weber, K., Assenheimer, J.S., Strauss, M.E., McCormick, R.A., 1995. Testing a tripartite model: II. Exploring the symptom structu
