Effectiveness of Vortioxetine on Emotional Blunting in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder with inadequate response to SSRI/SNRI treatment

• Published in: Journal of affective disorders Vol. 283; pp. 472 - 479
• Main Authors: Fagiolini, Andrea, Florea, Ioana, Loft, Henrik, Christensen, Michael Cronquist
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.03.2021
• Subjects: cognitive performance; depression; Depressive Disorder, Major - drug therapy; Double-Blind Method; emotional blunting; energy, functioning; Humans; motivation; Psychiatric/Mental Health; Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors - pharmacology; Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - pharmacology; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome; Vortioxetine; emotional blunting; depression; energy, functioning; cognitive performance; vortioxetine; motivation
• ISSN: 0165-0327; 1573-2517; 1573-2517
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.11.106

•About 50% of MDD patients treated with SSRIs or SNRIs suffer emotional blunting•Emotional blunting has important functional consequences for patients’ daily life•In this study vortioxetine was effective for treating emotional blunting•Improvement in emotional blunting correlated with improved overall functioning•Improved emotional blunting also correlated with greater motivation and energy Inadequate treatment response and emotional blunting are common challenges with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors/serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs/SNRIs) for major depressive disorder (MDD). We investigated the effectiveness of vortioxetine on emotional blunting in patients with partial response to treatment with SSRIs/SNRIs. Patients with MDD who experienced a partial response to SSRI/SNRI monotherapy at adequate dose for ≥6 weeks were switched to 8 weeks of vortioxetine treatment 10-20 mg/day (Study NCT03835715). Key inclusion criteria were Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score >21 and <29, current major depressive episode <12 months, Oxford Depression Questionnaire (ODQ) total score ≥50, and confirmation of emotional blunting by standardized screening question. Emotional blunting was assessed by ODQ and depressive symptoms by MADRS. Other outcomes assessed included motivation and energy (Motivation and Energy Inventory [MEI]), cognitive performance (Digit Symbol Substitution Test [DSST]), and overall functioning (Sheehan Disability Scale [SDS]). At week 8, patients (N=143) had improved by -29.8 points (p<0.0001) in ODQ total score; 50% reported no emotional blunting in response to standardized screening question. Significant improvements were observed on the DSST, MEI, and SDS at all time points assessed, and 47% of patients were in remission (MADRS total score ≤10) at week 8. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events included nausea, headache, dizziness, vomiting, and diarrhea. No prospective phase before medication switch. Vortioxetine 10-20 mg effectively improved emotional blunting, overall functioning, motivation and energy, cognitive performance, and depressive symptoms in patients with MDD with partial response to SSRI/SNRI therapy and emotional blunting.