Adjunctive Brexpiprazole Enhances Calming, Engagement in MDD

Patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) reported feeling calmer and more engaged after treatment with adjunctive brexpiprazole, according to a poster presented at Psych Congress 2020.

“Calming patients (without sedation) and increasing engagement (without overactivation) are important components of the successful treatment of major depressive disorder,” researchers wrote. “The aim of this analysis was to investigate patient experiences with adjunctive brexpiprazole in major depressive disorder, in the context of feeling calm and engaged with life.”

Researchers analyzed data from exit interviews with 104 patients with MDD from 3 studies. The open-label studies looked at 6 to 12 weeks of treatment with adjunctive oral brexpiprazole 1-3 mg/day in outpatients with MDD who had inadequate antidepressant response.

During interviews, 79.8% of participants used at least one calming term while referring to improvements during treatment, according to the poster: 46.2% said they felt less anxious, 44.2% less irritable, 28.8% less angry, 17.3% less worried, and 17.3% more calm.

Among participants who reported calming-related improvements, 96.4% cited improvements in life engagement: 75.9% said they had more energy, 75.9% more motivation, and 69.9% better social interaction.

“These data suggest a benefit of brexpiprazole beyond an improvement in depressive symptoms,” researchers wrote.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization Inc. and H. Lundbeck A/S sponsored the study.

—Jolynn Tumolo

Reference

Meehan SR, Weiss C, Brown TM, et al. Patient-reported effects of adjunctive brexpiprazole on calming and engagement in major depressive disorder: post hoc analysis of clinical trial exit interviews. Poster presented at Psych Congress 2020; September 10-13, 2020; Virtual.