The present study contrasted the short-term treatment effects of different antidepressants on depression severity and HbA1c in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and depression patients. It searched 8- to 24-week randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Clinicaltrials.gov and included 12 RCTs (N = 792) investigating agomelatine, citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, nortriptyline, no treatment, paroxetine, sertraline, vortioxetine, and placebo. 

Contrasting placebo, the standardized mean differences and 95% confidence intervals for depression severity reduction demonstrated that escitalopram ranked first, followed by agomelatine. Compared to placebo, the mean differences for HbA1c reduction suggested that vortioxetine ranked first, followed by escitalopram and agomelatine. 

Short-term trials in depressed patients with T2DM suggest that escitalopram and agomelatine may be favorable in ameliorating depression and controlling glycemic goals; however, more trials are required.

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2022;139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2022.104731.