title: Improvements in quality of life with desvenlafaxine 50mg/d vs placebo in employed adults with major depressive disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Diminished quality of life (QOL) is associated with major depressive disorder (MDD).
  
  
  METHODS
  QOL was assessed in a post-hoc analysis of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Employed adult outpatients with MDD were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of treatment with desvenlafaxine 50mg/d or placebo. Changes from baseline in the Short Form of the Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q) item scores at week 12 were analyzed using analysis of covariance with treatment, region, and baseline in the model. Correlations between change from baseline in the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D17) total score and Q-LES-Q scores were computed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intent-to-treat population included 427 patients. There were statistically significant improvements from baseline for desvenlafaxine vs placebo in 10 of 16 Q-LES-Q item scores (P values ≤0.0441). The percentage of patients with severe QOL impairment (≥2 SD below community norm) at week 12 was significantly lower for desvenlafaxine (46%) vs placebo (62%; P=0.0024; baseline: 95% and 94%, respectively). Change in Q-LES-Q total score was highly correlated with change in HAM-D17 score at week 12, LOCF (P<0.0001), and improvement in HAM-D17 total score at week 2 predicted change in Q-LES-Q total score at week 12 for the desvenlafaxine group (F=24.89; P<0.0001) but not placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This analysis excluded patients who were unemployed, had severe comorbidities, and those taking multiple, concomitant medications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improvement in QOL and depressive symptoms was significantly greater for employed depressed patients treated with desvenlafaxine vs placebo.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University Medical Center, New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA. Electronic address: je10@columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Endicott
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Raymond W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Pfizer Inc, Groton, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Ming-Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Pfizer Inc, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fayyad
authors.affiliation: Pfizer Canada Inc., Kirkland, Canada.
authors.forename: Matthieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boucher
authors.affiliation: Metagenics, Inc, USA.
authors.forename: Christine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Guico-Pabia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003863:Depression; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069468:Desvenlafaxine Succinate; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D010919:Placebos; D000069468:Desvenlafaxine Succinate
keywords: Antidepressive agents; Major depressive disorder; Quality of life outcomes