title: The effect of desvenlafaxine 50 mg/day on a subpopulation of anxious/depressed patients: a pooled analysis of seven randomized, placebo-controlled studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Desvenlafaxine (administered as desvenlafaxine succinate) for anxious depression was assessed in a post hoc analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were pooled from patients randomly assigned to desvenlafaxine 50 mg/day or placebo in seven double-blind, fixed-dose studies in adults with major depressive disorder. Patients with "anxious depression" had baseline 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, anxiety-somatization factor (HAM-D17 A/S) scores ≥7. Primary end point was change in HAM-D17 scores from baseline at week 8 (last observation carried forward), evaluated using analysis of covariance with treatment, study, and baseline value as covariates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1873/2706 (69%) patients were identified as "anxious depressed". Desvenlafaxine significantly improved HAM-D17 total scores versus placebo in anxious (adjusted mean [95% CI] -1.72 [-2.35, -1.09]; p < 0.001) and nonanxious (-1.48 [-2.40, -0.57]; p = 0.002) populations, with no significant treatment-by-anxiety interaction. Response and remission rates (HAM-D17 ) were significantly higher with desvenlafaxine compared with placebo in both populations. Treatment-emergent adverse events were reported by 78% and 69% (desvenlafaxine versus placebo, respectively) of anxious depressed patients and by 77% and 68% of nonanxious patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Desvenlafaxine 50 mg/day significantly improved depressive symptoms compared with placebo in major depressive disorder patients with clinically relevant anxiety symptoms. Improvement in the HAM-D17 total score was similar for anxious/nonanxious groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Institute for Women's Health, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Susan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kornstein
authors.forename: Christine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Guico-Pabia
authors.forename: Rana S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Fayyad
mesh_terms: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D000069468:Desvenlafaxine Succinate; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D000069468:Desvenlafaxine Succinate
keywords: anxiety; major depressive disorder; treatment efficacy