OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of doxepin combined with escitalopram on levels of glial cellderived neurotrophic factor（ GDNF） and 5-hydroxytryptamine（ 5-HT） in patients with depression. METHODS:Totally 123 patients admitted into Hainan Provincial Anning Hospital from Aug. 2017 to Aug. 2019 were extracted to be divided into the citalopram group（ n = 61） and the combined treatment group（ n = 62） via the random number table. The citalopram group was treated with escitalopram

while the combined treatment group received doxepin combined with escitalopram. Hamilton depression scale（ HAMD） was used to evaluate the psychological depression of patients. Pittsburgh sleep quality index（ PSQI） was used to evaluate the sleep quality of patients. Adult suicidal ideation questionnaire（ ASIQ） was adopted to evaluate the suicidal ideation of patients. The levels of GDNF and 5-HT were detected by immunoturbidimetry. The levels of interleukin（ IL） 2

IL-22

IL-1β

total antioxidant capacity（ TAOC）

8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine（ 8-OHDG） and catalase（ CAT） were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of T lymphocyte subsets were detected by flow cytometry. The therapeutic effects of two groups were observed. RESULTS: After treatment

compared with the citalopram group

the scores of HAMD

PSQI and ASIQ in the combined treatment group were lower

with statistically significant differences（ P

<

0. 05）. After treatment

compared with the citalopram group

the levels of GDNF

5-HT

CAT

CD4

+

and CD3

+

in the combined treatment group were higher

and the levels of IL-2

IL-22

IL-1β

TAOC

8-OHdG and CD8

+

in the combined treatment group were lower

with statistically significant differences（ P

<

0. 05）. The total effective rate of the combined treatment group was 95. 16%（ 59/62）

significantly higher than 83. 61%（ 51/61） of the citalopram group

the difference was statistically significant（ P

<

0. 05）. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy of doxepin combined with escitalopram in the treatment of depression is significant

which can effectively improve the depression

sleep quality and suicidal ideation of patients

regulate the levels of GDNF and 5-HT

reduce the inflammation

and improve the antioxidant capacity.