Efficacy of vortioxetine in working patients with generalized anxiety disorder

Abstract

Background Vortioxetine is an approved antidepressant that has also demonstrated positive effects on anxiety symptoms in subjects with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). This post-hoc analysis evaluates the efficacy of vortioxetine in GAD subjects who are working and/or pursuing an education.Methods In study NCT00744627, 301 GAD subjects were randomized to vortioxetine 5 mg or placebo for 8 weeks. Efficacy measures included the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) total score, response/remission, global functioning (Sheehan Disability Scale [SDS]), and quality of life (Short Form-36 Health Survey). In study NCT00788034, 687 GAD subjects were treated open-label with vortioxetine 5 or 10 mg for 20 weeks, after which subjects in remission were randomized to fixed-dose of vortioxetine (5 or 10 mg) or placebo for at least 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was time to relapse. Analyses were completed in subjects working and/or pursuing an education at study entry and the full analysis set.Results In study NCT00744627, the effect of vortioxetine versus placebo on HAM-A total score was -4.3 (p=0.0005) in working subjects (60% of total), while the effect in the total population was -3.8 (p=0.0001). The effect was greatest in subjects in professional (-4.5, p=0.0130) and associate professional positions (-7.6, p=0.0086). Greater effects in terms of response, remission, and the SDS and SF-36 were also observed. In NCT00788034, working subjects (69% of total) randomized to placebo were significantly more likely to relapse than subjects treated with vortioxetine (hazard ratio=2.9; p<0.001), while the hazard ratio in the total population was 2.7 (p<0.0001).Conclusions The beneficial effects of vortioxetine on anxiety symptoms, functioning, and quality of life are greater in adults with GAD who are working and/or pursuing an education versus the full GAD study population.