Treatment of Comorbid Anxiety and Depression with Escitalopram: Results of a Post-Marketing Surveillance Study

Introduction: In this 16-week post-marketing surveillance (PMS) study, antidepressant effects and tolerability of escitalopram was examined in 2 911 patients with comorbid depression and anxiety. Methods: Antidepressant effects were assessed using a modified version of the Montgomery-Asberg depression rating scale (svMADRS), the Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA) and the hospital anxiety depression scale (HADS-D) and the clinical global impression scale (CGI-S, CGI-I). Results: Treatment was completed by 2718 patients, whose severity of depression decreased from a mean svMADRS total score of 33.0 to 8.9. At the end of the study, the remission rate (svMADRS <= 12) was 72.9 % and the response rate (>= 50 % decrease in svMADRS score) was 83.1 % (LOCF). Similarly, the severity of anxiety symptoms decreased from a mean HAMA total score of 28.8-8.8; the remission rate (HAMA <10) was 63.9 % and the response rate (decrease >= 50 %) was 80.2 %. The most frequent adverse events were nausea (1.6 %), agitation (1.1 %) and fatigue (0.7 %). Discussion: Antidepressant effects and good tolerability of escitalopram were confirmed in everyday practice in patients with comorbid depression and anxiety. The high response and remission rates were within the range reported in previous RTC's of escitalopram vs. comparators or vs. placebo.