Functional recovery is the contemporary treatment goal in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Although consistency among physician and patient expectations may influence the therapeutic result (Demyttenaere K et al, 2011), patients’ perceptions are not always fully captured. Vortioxetine,a multimodal antidepressant, has shown encouraging data in achieving functional recovery, improving both mood and cognitive symptoms (Mahableshwarkar AR et al, 2015).

The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of vortioxetine on mood symptoms, cognitive symptoms and functionality, assessed by patient-rated tools, in MDD outpatients in Greece.

In this non-interventional study, vortioxetine was administered as flexible dosing (5-20 mg/d). Mood symptoms, cognitive symptoms and functioning were assessed by the patient-rated scales PHQ-9, PDQ-D and SDS respectively, at baseline, 1 and 3 months. Repeated measures analysis of variance and t-test were used for the statistical analyses.

336 patients participated in the study. PHQ-9 score ±SD decreased from 16.1±5.3, to 10.0±5.7 and 4.6±4.5, PDQ-D score ±SD decreased from 37.3±16.6 to 23.1±14.8 and 12.0±10.6, SDS Score ±SD decreased from 18.7±5.3 to 12.9±5.9 and to 7.8±6.5, at baseline, 1 and 3 months, respectively. The 3 SDS subscales: work/school life improved from 5.8±2.4 to 4.2±2.2 and 2.6±2.2, social life improved from 6.6±2.0 to 4.5±2.2 and 2.7±2.3 and family life improved from 6.3±2.0 to 4.3±2.1 and 2.6±2.3 -baseline, 1 and 3 months, respectively (p<0.001 for all paired comparisons).

MDD patients in Greece treated with vortioxetine significantly improved on mood symptoms, cognitive symptoms and functioning, enriching the already published efficacy data which is mostly based on clinician-rated scales.

A. Galanopoulos and E. Papalexi are full-time employees in Lundbeck Hellas.