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.
Author(s): Tourian KA, Jiang Q, Ninan PT.
Affiliation(s): Wyeth, a company of the Pfizer Group, Paris, France. TOURIAK@wyeth.com
Publication date & source: 2010, CNS Spectr. , 15(3):187-93
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= or <.011), and for the 50, 100, and 200 mg/day dose groups on the Covi
Anxiety Scale (all P= or <.015 vs placebo).
CONCLUSIONS: Desvenlafaxine was associated with significantly greater improvement
in anxiety symptoms compared with placebo in patients with MDD.
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