Ar. Entsuah et al., EFFECTIVENESS OF VENLAFAXINE TREATMENT IN A BROAD-SPECTRUM OF DEPRESSED-PATIENTS - A METAANALYSIS, Psychopharmacology bulletin, 31(4), 1995, pp. 759-766
The effectiveness of the novel antidepressant venlafaxine was assessed
in various subpopulations of depressed patients, Data from six compar
able placebo-controlled, double-blind studies were pooled and analyzed
(venlafaxine, n=930; placebo, n=500), Outcome variables were the Hami
lton Rating Scale for Depression total score, Montgomery-Asberg Depres
sion Rating Scale total score, and Clinical Global Impressions severit
y scores, Venlafaxine had notable antidepressant results in depressed
patients regardless of age (although no age differences were apparent,
too few patients over age 65 had been enrolled in the six studies to
permit definitive conclusions), gender, presence of melancholia, and s
everity or duration of depression, Our analysis indicates that venlafa
xine treatment is effective in a broad range of depressed patients.