Vortioxetine vs. Other Antidepressants in Patients with Major Depressive Episode With or Without Substance Use Disorder

BACKGROUND: Major Depressive Episodes (MDEs) may characterise many psychiatric disorders. Its pharmacotherapy is laid with unmet needs, rendering the testing of new drugs necessary. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of vortioxetine with those of other antidepressants (OADs) in a 1-year naturalistic setting. METHODS: We included 126 adult patients with anMDE in the course of major depressive (MDD), bipolar (BD), or schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSOPDs), with or without substance use disorder (SUD), who received 5-20 mg/day oral vortioxetine, and compared them with 100 patients receiving OADs at baseline and after 1, 3, 8, and 12 months on their scores on the MADRS, the CGI-S, the 24-item BPRS, the YMRS, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, a Visual Analogue Scale for craving, the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale, and the WHOQOL-BREF. RESULTS: Patients on vortioxetine improved similarly to those on OADs on all measures, independently from having or not a comorbid SUD. However, they improved with time better than their OADcounterparts if affected by BD or SSOPDs, but not MDD, on the CGI-S, BPRS depression, anxiety, and manic symptoms. SUD hampered the response of anxiety to treatment. Men improved on depression with time better than women. CONCLUSION: MDEs responded to vortioxetine similarly to OADs by improving in depression, general psychopathology, anxiety, suicidal thinking, and quality-of-life, independently from SUD comorbidity. MDEs of patients with BD or SSOPDs on vortioxetine responded better than that of patients on OADs. Clinical Trial Registration No. 17354N.