Depression is a clinical syndrome, characterized by a cluster of emotional, behavioural, and cognitive features. It also poses a significant economic burden to society as it leads to reduced productivity, treatment costs and loss of human life by suicide. 

A recent study compared the efficacy and safety of newer antidepressants like Escitalopram and Desvenlafaxine and contrasted them with conventional antidepressants, like Imipramine, in patients with depressive episodes. 

The study enrolled 72 newly diagnosed patients with depressive episodes according to ICD-10 criteria and divided them equally into three groups receiving: Imipramine (Group A), Escitalopram (Group B) and Desvenlafaxine (Group C), and followed them for 6 weeks. 

It measured efficacy by the reduction in MADRS, CGI-S and CGI-I scores, and safety by number, severity, and dropouts due to adverse drug reactions and laboratory investigations.

Analysis showed the Response rate as 51% in Group B, 43% in Group A and 40% in Group C, without any statistically significant difference. Initial response occurred in 2 weeks in 51% in group B and 40% in group C but none in group A with a statistical significance. CGI-S and CGI-I scores at the end of 6 weeks showed no statistically significant differences. 

Thus, newer antidepressants like escitalopram and desvenlafaxine are efficacious in treating moderate to severe depressive episodes, with the advantage of faster onset of action, better safety, and tolerability, compared to conventional drugs like imipramine.