TY - JOUR
T1 - Effectiveness study of venlafaxine-XR combined with aripiprazole for chronic or recurrent major depressive disorder
AU - Nierenberg, Andrew A.
AU - Trivedi, Madhukar H.
AU - Gaynes, Bradley N.
AU - Mitchell, Jeff
AU - Davis, Lori L.
AU - Husain, Mustafa M.
AU - Wisniewski, Stephen R.
AU - Fava, Maurizio
AU - Warden, Diane
AU - Luther, James F.
AU - Van Nieuwenhuizen, Adrienne O.
AU - Morris, David W.
AU - Shelton, Richard C.
AU - John Rush, A.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - Objective: Although the second-generation antipsychotic, aripiprazole (ARI), has been approved as an adjunct for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD), neither ARI nor any second-generation antipsychotic has been assessed in combination with an antidepressant at the initiation of a treatment trial for non-treatment-resistant MDD. The aim of the present study was therefore to assess the safety, tolerability, and remission rate in the treatment of MDD using the specific combination of venlafaxine-XR (VEN-XR) and ARI in a generalizable, difficult-to-treat group with chronic or recurrent MDD. Methods: Self-declared participants in primary care or psychiatric settings who had chronic or recurrent MDD and a minimum score of 14 on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression were included. Up to 12 weeks of open treatment with the combination of VEN-XR and ARI was provided. Participants began with VEN-XR, and ARI was added at week 2. Maximum allowable doses were 300 mg day 1 for venlafaxine-XR and 30 mg day1 for ARI. Remission was defined as ≤ 5 on the 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-report (QIDS-SR16). Results: Fifty outpatients with non-psychotic MDD were enrolled (mean age = 43±11 years; 38% male; QIDS-SR16=15±3). Mean exit dose of VEN-XR was 227±97 mg day1, and the mean exit dose of ARI was 11±7 mg day1. The combination was well tolerated; 16% of participants discontinued due to side-effects. Approximately 70% achieved remission at some point during the trial, and 66% achieved remission at study exit. Conclusions: To the best of the authors' knowledge this is the first study to combine an antidepressant and second-generation antipsychotic at the beginning of a treatment trial for chronic or recurrent non-treatment resistant MDD. VEN-XR and ARI combination appears to warrant further study in controlled trials.
AB - Objective: Although the second-generation antipsychotic, aripiprazole (ARI), has been approved as an adjunct for treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD), neither ARI nor any second-generation antipsychotic has been assessed in combination with an antidepressant at the initiation of a treatment trial for non-treatment-resistant MDD. The aim of the present study was therefore to assess the safety, tolerability, and remission rate in the treatment of MDD using the specific combination of venlafaxine-XR (VEN-XR) and ARI in a generalizable, difficult-to-treat group with chronic or recurrent MDD. Methods: Self-declared participants in primary care or psychiatric settings who had chronic or recurrent MDD and a minimum score of 14 on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression were included. Up to 12 weeks of open treatment with the combination of VEN-XR and ARI was provided. Participants began with VEN-XR, and ARI was added at week 2. Maximum allowable doses were 300 mg day 1 for venlafaxine-XR and 30 mg day1 for ARI. Remission was defined as ≤ 5 on the 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-report (QIDS-SR16). Results: Fifty outpatients with non-psychotic MDD were enrolled (mean age = 43±11 years; 38% male; QIDS-SR16=15±3). Mean exit dose of VEN-XR was 227±97 mg day1, and the mean exit dose of ARI was 11±7 mg day1. The combination was well tolerated; 16% of participants discontinued due to side-effects. Approximately 70% achieved remission at some point during the trial, and 66% achieved remission at study exit. Conclusions: To the best of the authors' knowledge this is the first study to combine an antidepressant and second-generation antipsychotic at the beginning of a treatment trial for chronic or recurrent non-treatment resistant MDD. VEN-XR and ARI combination appears to warrant further study in controlled trials.
KW - Aripiprazole
KW - Major depressive disorder
KW - Venlafazine-XR
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U2 - 10.1080/00048670903001885
DO - 10.1080/00048670903001885
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:71049163321
SN - 0004-8674
VL - 43
SP - 956
EP - 967
JO - Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
JF - Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry
IS - 10
ER -