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Analysis of the Effect of Desvenlafaxine on Anxiety Symptoms Associated with Major Depressive Disorder: Pooled Data from 9 Short-Term, Double-blind, Placebo-Controlled Trials

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2014

Karen A. Tourian ,
Qin Jiang  and
Philip T. Ninan
Karen A. Tourian*
Affiliation:
CR&D Neuroscience, Wyeth, a company of the Pfizer Group
Qin Jiang
Affiliation:
Pfizer Inc, formerly Wyeth Research
Philip T. Ninan
Affiliation:
Pfizer Inc, formerly Wyeth Research
*
Karen A. Tourian, MD, Wyeth, a company of the Pfizer Group, Division Wyeth Research, Coeur Défense, Tour A, La Défense 4, 110 Esplanade du Générate de Gaulle 92931 Paris, La Défense Cedex, France. Tel: 33-01-41-02-78-10; Fax:, 33-01-41-02-74-79. E-mail:, TOURIAK@wyeth.com.
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Abstract

Background: This analysis evaluated the effects of the serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, desvenlafaxine (administered as desvenlafaxine succinate), on anxiety symptoms associated with depression.

Methods: Data were pooled from 9 randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, 8 week studies of desvenlafaxine (50-400 mg/day, fixed or flexible dose) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), without a primary anxiety diagnosis. Changes from baseline in scores on the anxiety/somatization factor of the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D17) and on the Covi Anxiety Scale at the final evaluation (last observation carried forward) were compared between desvenlafaxine and placebo groups using analysis of covariance.

Results: In the overall data set (intent to treat n=2,913 [desvenlafaxine, n=1,805; placebo, n=1,108]), desvenlafaxine was associated with significantly greater reductions compared with placebo in scores on the HAM-D17 anxiety/somatization factor (-3.41 vs -2.92, P<.001) and Covi Anxiety Scale (-1.35 vs -1.04, P<.001). In the subset of fixed-dose studies, significant differences were observed for all dose groups on the HAM-D17 anxiety/somatization factor (P≤.OH), and for the 50, 100, and 200 mg/day dose groups on the Covi Anxiety Scale (all P≤.015 vs placebo).

Conclusions: Desvenlafaxine was associated with significantly greater improvement in anxiety symptoms compared with placebo in patients with MDD.

Information

Type
Original Research
Information
CNS Spectrums , Volume 15 , Issue 3 , March 2010 , pp. 187 - 193
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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