Effectiveness of Vortioxetine Compared to Placebo for Treatment of Mood Disorders (General Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder): Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Anxiety is characterised by feelings, such as worrying thoughts and tensions, resulting in physical changes, such as elevated blood pressure. Individuals who have severe anxiety symptoms for a long time are diagnosed with a general anxiety disorder (GAD). Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) also is one of the common psychiatric disorders that affect daily activities such as sleeping, working, eating, and how people think. The prevalence of GAD, as well as (MDD), is increasing globally. Therefore, it is crucial to establish effective and safe treatments to reduce the burden of the disease. Vortioxetine is a medication that has been approved by the food and drug administration (FDA) for treating mood disorders such as MDD and GAD. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of vortioxetine compared to placebo to treat GAD and MDD. Methods: The study is a meta-analysis that applied the PICO framework to determine the keywords used to search for articles in the literature. The search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, and PubMed databases using Boolean operators. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were also applied in selecting the relevant articles for the study. The study results were analysed using the RevMan software, and the confidence interval was set at 95%. Results: Based on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score, there was no difference in outcomes between the intervention and placebo (p=0.54). The results were also similar to articles that were based on the Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI-S) score (P=0.87). However, there was statistical significance with the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) score (P <0.001). In the literature studied, there was a significant difference in safety outcomes between the groups that were prescribed vortioxetine and placebo (P < 0.00001); patients in the groups had headaches, nausea and dizziness compared to the control. Conclusion: The results show no difference in efficacy between vortioxetine and placebo, and vortioxetine was associated with nausea, headaches and dizziness. Future studies should focus on establishing causes of adverse outcomes and interventions to minimise the side effects.