Effectiveness of long-term vortioxetine treatment of patients with major depressive disorder

To investigate the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of vortioxetine in patients treated at therapeutic doses (5-20 mg/day) for both acute and maintenance treatment, patient-level data were pooled from 5 long-term (52-week), open-label extension studies of major depressive disorder. The mean (±standard deviation) MADRS total score improved from 17.1±10.2 at the start of maintenance therapy to 7.6±8.2 (observed cases [OC]) or 10.3±9.9 (last observation carried forward [LOCF]) at week 52. The mean HAM-A total scores improved from 11.3±6.9 to 6.0±6.0 (OC) or 7.5±6.7 (LOCF) and the mean CGI-S score improved from 3.11±1.20 to 1.94±1.08 (OC) or 2.27±1.26 (LOCF) at week 52. Response and remission rates increased over time. At week 52, the total response rate was 75.4% (n=916/1215, LOCF) and the total remission rate was 60.7% (n=738/1215, LOCF). There were no differences in effectiveness as assessed by MADRS total scores at week 52 in subgroups based on gender, age (<55 vs ≥55 years), baseline HAM-A total score (<20 vs ≥20), baseline MADRS total score (<30 vs ≥30), previous major depressive episodes (MDEs) (<3 vs ≥3) or current MDE duration (<6 vs ≥6 months) at the start of the lead-in studies, or response status (≥50% decrease in MADRS total score during the lead-in study). The most commonly reported adverse event during the maintenance period was nausea.