Extended-release quetiapine fumarate (quetiapine XR) monotherapy and quetiapine XR or lithium as add-on to antidepressants in patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder

Abstract

Background: Patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD) remain a common clinical challenge.

Methods: This 6-week, randomised, open-label, rater-blinded trial evaluated once-daily extended-release quetiapine fumarate (quetiapine XR; 300 mg/day) as add-on to ongoing antidepressant and quetiapine XR monotherapy (300 mg/day) compared with add-on lithium (0.6-1.2 mmol/L) in patients with treatment-resistant MDD. Primary efficacy measure: change in Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) total score from randomisation to week 6 with a pre-specified non-inferiority limit of 3 points on the MADRS.

Results: At week 6, both add-on quetiapine XR (n=231) and quetiapine XR monotherapy (n=228) were non-inferior to add-on lithium (n=229); least squares means (LSM) differences (97.5% CI) in MADRS total score changes were -2.32 (-4.6, -0.05) and -0.97 (-3.24, 1.31), respectively. LSM MADRS total score change was numerically greater at day 4 for both quetiapine XR groups (add-on and monotherapy; p<0.01) compared with add-on lithium. At week 6, the differences between groups for the secondary endpoints of MADRS response (≥ 50% reduction in total score), MADRS remission (total score ≤ 10, add-on quetiapine XR only) and Clinical Global Impressions ('much'/'very much' improved) were numerically similar. Overall tolerability was consistent with the known profiles of both treatments.

Limitations: Limitations included the open-label study design (although MADRS and laboratory measurements were performed by treatment-blinded raters) and relatively short study duration with no assessments in the continuation phase.

Conclusions: Add-on quetiapine XR (300 mg/day) and quetiapine XR monotherapy (300 mg/day) are non-inferior to add-on lithium in the management of patients with treatment-resistant MDD.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00789854.

Keywords: Atypical antipsychotic; Augmentation; Lithium; Major depressive disorder; Quetiapine XR; Treatment-resistant depression.