R. Entsuah et al., EFFICACY OF VENLAFAXINE TREATMENT IN DEPRESSED-PATIENTS WITH PSYCHOMOTOR RETARDATION OR AGITATION - A METAANALYSIS, Human psychopharmacology, 10(3), 1995, pp. 195-200
A meta-analysis was performed to assess the effectiveness of the novel
antidepressant venlafaxine in depressed patients with psychomotor ret
ardation and/or agitation [respective baseline item score greater than
zero on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D)]. Data from
five comparable placebo-controlled double-blind studies (n = 1122) wer
e analysed; in two of them venlafaxine was also compared with imiprami
ne. Separate analyses were performed on data from psychomotor retarded
and agitated patients by using a one-way analysis of covariance (HAM-
D total score during therapy, dependent variable; baseline HAM-D total
score, covariate; therapy, factor). The overall pool of venlafaxine-t
reated patients showed a significantly greater decline in total HAM-D
score than did the placebo-treated patients. Venlafaxine-treated patie
nts with retardation showed a significantly greater decline in total H
AM-D scores than did placebo- and imipramine-treated patients, startin
g at weeks 3 and 4, respectively. Venlafaxine-treated patients with ag
itation showed a significantly greater decline in total HAM-D scores t
han did placebo- and imipramine-treated patients, starting at weeks 2
and 1, respectively. In conclusion, venlafaxine is effective in depres
sed patients whether or not they have symptoms of psychomotor retardat
ion or agitation.