Efficacy of cariprazine in bipolar I depression across patient characteristics: a post hoc analysis of pooled randomized, placebo-controlled studies

Patients who experience bipolar depression have diverse demographic and clinical characteristics that have the potential to impact treatment. The efficacy of cariprazine in bipolar I depression was evaluated in patient subgroups defined by baseline demographic and clinical characteristics. Post hoc analyses of data from three randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in bipolar I depression (NCT01396447, NCT02670538 and NCT02670551) evaluated mean change from baseline in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total scores for pooled cariprazine 1.5–3 mg/d versus placebo in subgroups defined by demographic and clinical characteristics. The least-squares mean difference in MADRS total score change from baseline was statistically significant for cariprazine 1.5–3 mg/d versus placebo in all patient subgroups analyzed (P < 0.05 all subgroups): demographic characteristics (age, sex, white or black race and obese/nonobese BMI); episode characteristics (defined by current episode duration, number of previous manic/mixed and depressive episodes, and prior bipolar disorder medication use) and disease severity (groups above and below Clinical Global Impressions-Severity and MADRS cutoff scores). Cariprazine 1.5–3 mg/d consistently improved depressive symptoms in all patient subgroups without regard to differences in baseline demographic and clinical characteristics, suggesting broad efficacy across a spectrum of patients with bipolar I depression.