title: Aripiprazole in bipolar depression: a pooled, post-hoc analysis by severity of core depressive symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This post-hoc analysis of pooled data from two similarly designed trials assessed the impact of aripiprazole monotherapy vs. placebo on treatment outcomes based on baseline severity of core depressive symptoms in patients with bipolar I disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were classified as severely depressed (Bech-6 Total score > 15) or less severely depressed (Bech-6 Total score < 15). Efficacy was assessed by mean changes in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) Total and MADRS-6 subscale scores from baseline to endpoint using a mixed model repeated measures analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 133 patients (n = 62 on active aripiprazole) were classified as severely depressed and 612 patients (n = 309 aripiprazole) as less severely depressed. At endpoint, the mean MADRS Total score reduction for severely depressed patients receiving aripiprazole compared with placebo was -19.4 vs. -15.4 (P = 0.14), whereas MADRS-6 subscale score reduction for patients receiving aripiprazole compared with placebo was -13.8 vs. -10.3 (P = 0.07). Adverse event profiles were similar between the two severity groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Symptomatic improvements assessed here suggest that aripiprazole monotherapy at the doses studied may provide some improvements in core symptoms of depression in patients with bipolar I disorder who were more severely depressed.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. thase@mail.med.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Thase
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Bowden
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nashat
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Eudicone
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: McQuade
authors.forename: Berit X
authors.initials: BX
authors.lastname: Carlson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017109:Akathisia, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000068180:Aripiprazole; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015363:Quinolones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D015363:Quinolones; D000068180:Aripiprazole