Usefulness of vortioxetine noted in depression secondary to hypoxic brain injury and residual cognitive deficits

We report on our experience of treating depression secondary to hypoxic brain injury with the antidepressant vortioxetine to share in the growing body of evidence. Our patient was referred to a community mental health team with depression, amotivation and memory difficulties following a myocardial infarction and cardiac arrest 2 years prior. Regardless of motor recovery, major cognitive deficits remained; however, neurorehabilitation was impossible due to severe depression. We tried vortioxetine in the light of two failed antidepressants and saw a remarkable improvement in mood, motivation and engagement.