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EXTENDED RELEASE QUETIAPINE FUMARATE IN MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER: ANALYSIS IN PATIENTS WITH ANXIOUS DEPRESSION
Author(s) -
Thase Michael E.,
Demyttenaere Koen,
Earley Willie R.,
Gustafsson Urban,
Udd Mattias,
Eriksson Hans
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
depression and anxiety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.634
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6394
pISSN - 1091-4269
DOI - 10.1002/da.21970
Subject(s) - quetiapine , placebo , discontinuation , somatization , medicine , anxiety , hamilton anxiety rating scale , depression (economics) , major depressive disorder , quetiapine fumarate , psychology , rating scale , psychiatry , hamilton rating scale for depression , atypical antipsychotic , antipsychotic , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , mood , developmental psychology , alternative medicine , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
Background A pooled analysis was performed on data from two studies evaluating the efficacy of once‐daily extended‐release quetiapine fumarate (quetiapine XR) monotherapy for patients with major depressive disorder. Through these analyses (based on Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM‐D) and Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM‐A) measures), we aim to further evaluate the efficacy of quetiapine XR in depressed patients with high levels of anxiety symptoms. Methods Secondary analyses were conducted of pooled individual patient data from two 8‐week (6‐week randomized phase, 2‐week drug discontinuation phase), double‐blind, placebo‐controlled studies of quetiapine XR (50–300 mg/day). Outcomes included change from randomization at Week 6 in Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score for patients with anxious and nonanxious depression.Results Of 968 patients included in the analysis, 788 (81.4%) were classified as anxious depressed (defined as HAM‐D anxiety/somatization factor score ≥7) and 180 (18.6%) were nonanxious. For patients with anxious depression and nonanxious depression, statistically significant differences versus placebo in MADRS total score were recorded for quetiapine XR 150 mg/day (−3.24, P < .001 and −4.82, P < .01, respectively) and 300 mg/day (−3.57, P < .001 and −3.39, P < .05, respectively) at Week 6. In the second analysis using an alternate definition of anxious depression (baseline HAM‐A total score ≥20), quetiapine XR 150 and 300 mg/day resulted in significant differences versus placebo in MADRS total score reduction in patients with high and lower levels of anxiety. The adverse event (AE) profile was similar irrespective of baseline anxiety levels, although patients with anxious depression reported a somewhat greater incidence of AEs.Conclusion Quetiapine XR monotherapy improved symptoms of depression in patients with higher and lower levels of anxiety.