The effect of desvenlafaxine 50 mg/day on a subpopulation of anxious/depressed patients: a pooled analysis of seven randomized, placebo‐controlled studies

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‐D 17 A/S) scores ≥7. Primary end point was change in HAM‐D 17 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‐D 17 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‐D 17 ) 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. Conclusion 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‐D 17 total score was similar for anxious/nonanxious groups. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.