Therapeutic Potential of Vortioxetine for Anxious Depression: A Post Hoc Analysis of Data from a Clinical Trial Conducted in Japan

AIM: Antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, often elicit a poor response in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) with significant anxiety symptoms. This study investigated the effects of the multimodal antidepressant vortioxetine in patients with MDD and associated anxiety. METHODS: This was a post hoc analysis of data from an 8-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 study of vortioxetine (10 mg or 20 mg) in Japanese patients aged 20–75 years with recurrent MDD and a Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score of at least 26. Changes from baseline to week 8 in MADRS total score and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) anxiety/somatization factor score were assessed in patients with anxious depression (HAM-D anxiety/somatization factor score ≥7) and without anxious depression. RESULTS: Data were available for 489 patients. In patients with anxious depression, the least-squares (LS) mean difference (95% confidence interval [CI]) versus placebo in change in MADRS total score was −3.44 (−6.10, −0.77) for vortioxetine 10 mg and −4.51 (−7.15, −1.87) for vortioxetine 20 mg. In patients with non-anxious depression, the LS mean difference (95% CI) versus placebo was −1.81 (−4.71, 1.09) and −1.05 (−4.00, 1.90) for vortioxetine 10 mg and 20 mg, respectively. Changes from baseline in HAM-D anxiety/somatization factor score were greater in patients treated with vortioxetine 10 mg or 20 mg than in those treated with placebo. CONCLUSION: Vortioxetine may be effective for patients with anxiety symptoms in MDD. Further research is warranted to investigate these effects in a real-world clinical setting. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier for primary study: NCT02389816.